Harrisville Town Spring, Harrisville, NH 03450

## Overview Harrisville Town Spring is a beloved local resource nestled along Skatutakee Road in the charming village of Harrisville, New Hampshire — one of the best-preserved 19th-century mill villages in New England. This public drinking spring has reportedly been flowing for over 150 years, producing an impressive 20 gallons of fresh water per minute. Generations of Harrisville residents have relied on it as a source of drinking water, and it remains a popular stop for locals filling jugs and bottles to this day. The spring's location carries a rich connection to the region's railroad history. The current water supply sits at the same spot where water tanks once supplied steam engines during the 1800s and into the early 1900s, making it a site of both natural and historical significance. Please note that the spring is not maintained or monitored by the Town of Harrisville, and water quality cannot be guaranteed. ### Geology & Aquifer According to research conducted by the Harrisville Conservation Commission (highlighted in their 2013 Natural Resource Inventory and subsequent investigations), the Town Spring is fed by an "overburden" aquifer — glacial deposits of sand and gravel that extend south from the flank of Beech Hill. Unlike other "stratified drift" aquifers in the region, this one does not contain an impermeable clay layer above the sand and gravel deposits. Instead, the 20- to 100-foot-deep sands and gravels are exposed directly at the surface. While this geological structure contributes to the spring's generous flow, it also makes the aquifer more susceptible to surface pollution from development. The Conservation Commission has been actively exploring ways to protect the Town Spring's aquifer. The recharge area covers substantial land along both sides of Dublin Road and up the flank of Beech Hill. A detailed aquifer map was produced by Nobis Engineering, delineating the aquifer boundaries and the vital recharge zones that directly feed the spring. ## Directions 1. From the center of Harrisville village, head south on Chesham Road / NH Route 137. 2. Turn onto Skatutakee Road (watch for signage). 3. The spring is located at or near **153 Skatutakee Road**, Harrisville, NH 03450. 4. GPS coordinates: **42.935199, -72.078318** — use these for the most reliable navigation, as the area is rural and signage may be limited. 5. Look for the spring outlet along the roadside. It is a public access point, so no special permission is needed to visit. ## What to Expect Harrisville Town Spring is a roadside spring with a steady, reliable flow — visitors have reported that the water runs clear and strong year-round, though flow may vary seasonally. The spring is set in a quintessentially New Hampshire landscape of wooded hills and quiet country roads. The surrounding area is rural and peaceful, with the picturesque village of Harrisville nearby. The spring is easy to access directly from Skatutakee Road — no hiking is required. Bring your own containers if you plan to collect water. Since the spring is not monitored or treated, visitors have historically used it as a drinking water source, but water quality is not guaranteed. The area around the spring is informal, so expect a simple, no-frills setup rather than a developed park or facility. Harrisville itself is worth exploring while you're in the area. The village is known for its remarkably intact collection of early 19th-century brick mill buildings reflected in Harrisville Pond, making it a scenic and historically rich destination beyond the spring itself.