Merrimack, New Hampshire, ZIP code 03054, currently holds a critical environmental hazard designation due to profound proximity to multiple industrial and military contamination zones. The highest immediate threat is the New Boston Air Force Station, an active National Priorities List site located at a distance of exactly 2.6 miles away. The surrounding region contains a dense concentration of environmental hazards, featuring thirteen total active sites within a ten-mile radius, including the Savage Municipal Water Supply and Hitchiner Manufacturing facilities. The primary pollutants associated with the New Boston Air Force Station involve unspecified hazardous substances stemming from historical military operations. Exposure to these complex chemical mixtures, which frequently include volatile organic compounds and heavy metals, can severely impact residents by increasing the risk of neurological damage, respiratory illnesses, and chronic organ dysfunction. Under the supervision of the Environmental Protection Agency, the New Boston Air Force Station remains in the active cleanup and mitigation stage, meaning comprehensive remediation and long-term groundwater monitoring are ongoing. The active status indicates that containment protocols are established, but subsurface migration of contaminants remains an ongoing localized threat.

Residents must proactively mitigate potential exposure pathways. First, households utilizing private wells should install advanced reverse osmosis filtration systems capable of intercepting industrial runoff and various complex chemicals. Second, individuals should order comprehensive residential water and soil testing through state-certified laboratories to establish baseline property safety. Third, residents should consistently monitor the annual water quality reports mandated by state environmental regulators to track potential subsurface municipal supply intrusions over time.