Awards
RECOGNIZING SUCCESSES
Over the years, the Precinct has been recognized for our hard work being proactive, keeping things running efficiently and delivering consistently high-quality service to our valued customers.
Since the Precinct's inception, the Village's population, our service area, and water usage have grown significantly. Many state and federal regulations have also gone into effect, requiring diligence to maintain compliance with water chemistry, conservation, and reporting requirements. In addition, much of the original infrastructure has reached or is approaching the end of its expected lifespan and requires careful planning to navigate upgrades and replacements. Taking all of these factors into account, we've come a long way these past 70+ years from pumping pond water a few blocks to utilizing finely tuned technology to efficiently provide safe and appealing water to over 3000 customers.
Some recent accolades we've been honored to receive for our efforts:
Taste Test Triumphs
Of all the communities who submitted samples for the 10th annual Drinking Water Taste Test Competition held by Granite State Rural Water Association in September 2024, Hooksett Village Water Precinct was judged to have the best water in the state of NH! Scores were based on clarity, bouquet, and taste. The Precinct then went on to represent the State of New Hampshire at National Rural Water Association's annual rally in February 2025. Of the 46 states were represented at the rally in D.C., we were awarded the Silver Medal for Best Water in the USA.
Striving for Sustainability
In 2021, the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) recognized HVWP for "outstanding efforts to maintain the sustainability of the Precinct's groundwater sources through asset modernization, strategic planning, and a commitment to proactive water loss control."
NHDES also acknowledged our achievement of reducing our "water balance" (essentially lost water) from approximately 20 million gallons in 2015 to less than 1 million gallons in 2020 through leak detection and repair efforts that are enhanced by ongoing asset management and GIS mapping endeavors.
Systemic Improvements
The Precinct has been recognized twice for overall accomplishments in recent memory. Firstly, New England Water Works Association (NEWWA) chose HVWP as the 2014 Utility of the Year.
Their decision was based upon significant improvements to water system infrastructure, customer service, staff training and operations to protect public health and safety. NEWWA noted efforts to maintain quality and reliability, and capital investments to pace demand increases from residential growth. At the time, HVWP was investing in backup power, wireless security systems, and the early stages of our automated metering program. That meter program now enables customers to track readings in near-real time.
Systemic Improvements (continued)
Six years later in 2020, Granite State Rural Water Association (GSRWA) awarded HVWP with the prestigious System of the Year award. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the award was not distributed in person at the annual meeting as they typically are. Nonetheless the Awards of Excellence were presented on Zoom and then delivered to the recipients. In 2020, GSRWA honored two water systems with this award, the other being Whitefield Water Dept.
GSRWA highlighted some of the Precinct's recent accomplishments in proactive planning and public outreach. We were in the process of modernizing well stations to improve safety, efficiency and communications as well as inventorying assets using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for improved asset management. HVWP had also recently completed construction on a new 1MG glass-fused-to-steel storage tank on the west side of I-93 to maintain adequate storage for Hooksett's growth trajectory. In terms of public outreach, we had recently hosted a water system overview and groundwater protection Best Management Practices (BMP) outreach meeting. Also mentioned was our exceptional water balance, which demonstrated less than 5% unauthorized use and leaks, well below the NHDES 15% benchmark.