The City of Rochester is pleased to share highlights from the 2025 New Hampshire Drinking Water Festival & Science Fair, held on Thursday, May 8, 2025.
Organized by the New Hampshire Drinking Water Coalition (Coalition), the festival brought 400 elementary school students from all over the state to the Rochester Water Treatment Facility for a day of interactive learning, creative expression, and hands-on science exploration focused on water quality and conservation.
Established in 1991 by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES), the Drinking Water Festival has grown to include a Water Science Fair and Poetry Contest, engaging students in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics) concepts related to water.
Rochester’s Water Division played a pivotal role in bringing the event to the city, with additional support from the Department of Public Works, Planning Department, Recreation Department, City Clerk’s Office, and Buildings and Grounds.
In addition to over two dozen activity areas stationed throughout the grounds, Public Works staff led an interactive activity focused on stormwater and pollution prevention. City Manager Katie Ambrose served as a judge for the Water Science Fair, while Mayor Paul Callaghan congratulated each of the student finalists during the awards ceremony and presented prizes to the winners. Former Poet Laureate Ed Pacht also attended, reading a poem written especially for the event and announcing the winners of the statewide poetry contest.
Additionally, staff provided guided tours of the Water Treatment Facility, giving students and educators a behind-the-scenes look at Rochester’s water operations.
“Rochester has a treasure in its city employees. They were very supportive in making this an outstanding water education opportunity for students. They knew that education like this is a tremendous asset for Rochester. Having a critical mass of residents understand how to protect and conserve water keeps a community healthy and saves tax dollars.” said Lara Hooper of NHDES and Chair of the Coalition.
This free educational event is a collaboration between multiple organizations throughout the state. In addition to the City of Rochester, participating groups included Concord General Services, Granite State Rural Water Association, Keene Public Works Department, Manchester Water Works, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, New Hampshire Water Pollution Control Association, New Hampshire Water Works Association, Plymouth Village Water and Sewer District, and RCAP Solutions.
For more information, visit nhwaterfestival.org or contact Lara Hooper at lara.hooper@des.nh.gov or (603) 271-4071.