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Orford is a rural community on the Connecticut River in western New Hampshire. Home to approximately 1200 people, Orford is known for its historic “ridge” homes, as well as family farms and small businesses. Much of Orford is forested, providing for a variety of outdoor activities, such as hiking, boating, snowshoeing and hunting. Chartered in 1761, Orford has a history of close ties with its neighboring towns on the Vermont side of the river. In 1998, Orford and the Vermont towns of Fairlee, West Fairlee and Vershire formed the preK-12 Rivendell Interstate School District. Mount Cube, Sunday Mountain and Cottonstone Mountain, Indian Pond and Upper and Lower Baker ponds are distinctive features of the Orford landscape. The Appalachian Trail passes over the summit of Mt. Cube, and the cross-Rivendell trail connects Orford to neighboring Vermont towns.

Orford is about 18 miles north of Hanover and Dartmouth College, along the scenic Connecticut River Valley. It’s an easy drive to the White Mountains, Franconia Notch State Park, the Kancamagus Highway, and Lake Winnipesaukee.

Low-Income Residential Drought Assistance Program

For low-income qualifying homeowners experiencing drought-related loss of a safe, reliable source of drinking water at their primary residence, this program for residential well owners may provide short-term relief with the provision of bottled water and financial assistance for activities associated with improving or replacing the homeowner’s well or connecting the residence to an available community water supply.

The Drinking Water and Groundwater Trust fund Commission approved funding of $1.5M to this program in October 2020: Emergency Drought Assistance Initiative (10-23-20)

The effective date of this assistance is June 23, 2020 and applies to projects that have been completed prior to approval through this application process and new projects.

Income Eligibility Criteria
This program is to assist low-income New Hampshire residents with a primary residential water well impacted by drought. Compare you total household income to the income criterion which is based on U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) guidelines and the average statewide Median Household Income (MHI): Income Eligibility Guidance For questions regarding project eligibility please contact: droughtwellinfo@des.nh.gov

For additional information, please click here to visit the NH Drought Management Program