What's New

Department of Public Works will hold its semiannual Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day on Saturday, May 9, 2026 at the Public Works facility at 680 Peverly Hill Road. Residents of Portsmouth, Greenland, and Newington are encouraged to bring household chemicals for safe disposal between 8 am and 12 noon.

The Arbor Day Foundation has again recognized the City of Portsmouth for its commitment to urban forestry, awarding the City its Tree City USA designation for the 27th consecutive year. For the eighth year, the Foundation also presented its Tree Growth Award to the City’s Department of Public Works (DPW) Urban Forestry staff, recognizing the work of City Arborist Supervisor Max Wiater, the Parks and Greenery Division led by Foreman Corin Hallowell, and the Trees & Public Greenery Committee.

The week of April 6-10, 2026 is National Community Development Week celebrating community improvements made possible through U.S. Housing and Urban Development and its programs like Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). Portsmouth has been receiving federal CDBG for over 45 years to support public facility and accessibility improvements, access to quality public services, and improved housing conditions to create a safe and dignified quality of urban life; 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Revised Lead and Copper Rule (LCRR) requires all public water suppliers to inventory the type of material used in every water service line connected to their water system. The City of Portsmouth submitted its initial inventory of service line materials in October 2024 and has since continued to identify materials that were unknown at that time.

The City of Portsmouth Department of Public Works Water Division begins its seasonal flushing of fire hydrants and water mains on Monday, April 6, 2026. The flushing will take place at various locations, Monday through Thursday, between 7 pm and 11 pm, and is expected to take six weeks to complete.

Clean Water Week in New Hampshire takes place April 12-18, 2026. The City of Portsmouth Department of Public Works is honoring the event by hosting an open house with guided public tours of both of the City’s wastewater treatment facilities. The Pease Wastewater Treatment Facility Open House is scheduled for Thursday, April 16, 2026 from 2 to 5:30 pm and the Peirce Island Wastewater Treatment Facility Open House is scheduled for Friday, April 17, 2026 from 2 to 5:30 pm.

City Affirms Continuation of Employee Health Coverage Amid Ongoing Dispute with SchoolCare

The City of Portsmouth today affirmed that health insurance coverage for Portsmouth School Department staff remains in place and uninterrupted, while the City continues to seek a reasonable and lawful resolution of an unprecedented and disputed, mid year assessment imposed by the New Hampshire School Health Care Coalition (SchoolCare).

The City of Portsmouth Planning & Sustainability Department invites all community members to a Draft Plan Open House for the Master Plan, to be held on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 from 6 to 8 pm at Community Campus, located at 100 Campus Drive. Light food and refreshments will be provided.

The Master Plan is an eighteen‑month Citywide planning initiative designed to shape Portsmouth’s future across critical topics including housing, transportation, economic development, climate, urban form, and land use.

The Portsmouth Public Library, Portsmouth Energy Advisory Committee, and Seacoast Climate Action Now will host a free NHSaves “Button Up” home energy workshop on Thursday, April 9, 2026, at 6 pm at the Portsmouth Public Library, 175 Parrott Avenue. Residents may attend in person or via Zoom; pre-registration is required.