What's New

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) required that all public water suppliers, including the City of Portsmouth submit an inventory of the materials in water service lines by October 16, 2024. These service lines are the pipes that deliver drinking water from the public water mains to customers. The inventory requirement is part of the EPA Lead and Copper Rule Revision.

On April 18 2022, the Portsmouth City Council authorized funds to create the Community Health Needs Assessment and Community Health Improvement Plan. Through the development of the Plan it became clear that local human services nonprofits suffered significant revenue losses due to negative impacts of COVID-19, while simultaneously having to expand the scope of their services to cover gaps that had not existed prior to the pandemic.

On Monday, November 11, 2024 City of Portsmouth offices, Recreation Department facilities and the Portsmouth Public Library will be closed in observance of Veterans Day. Trash collection will be combined with Tuesday collection and there will be no yard waste collected on either day. A parking holiday (no charge at on-street parking meters), will also be observed on Monday, November 11.

The leaves are falling and DPW is collecting yard waste during curbside pickups and at the Recycling Center. The DPW Stormwater Division suggests there are alternatives to raking and bagging. 

As part of its “Think Blue” public awareness campaign, the Division provides “Rake It or Leaf It?” best practices when it comes to autumn yard work (and has produced a YouTube video to make the point humorously: portsnh.co/rakeorleaf).

The City of Portsmouth Planning and Sustainability Department will host a Market Square Master Plan Public Meeting on Monday, November 4, 2024, from 6 to 8 pm in the Levenson Room at the Portsmouth Public Library (175 Parrott Avenue).

The Portsmouth Department of Public Works is hosting a public meeting to discuss the Route 1 Bypass-Coakley Road-Cottage Street Intersection Redesign Project on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, at 6 pm at the Portsmouth Senior Activity Center (125 Cottage Street). This is a hybrid meeting held in-person and via Zoom. To register for participating by Zoom, visit: portsnh.co/Bypass-Coakley-Cottage.  

The City of Portsmouth Department of Public Works is partnering with HydroPredictions, the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, the University of New Hampshire, and Jennifer M. Jacobs and Associates, LLC, on a groundwater monitoring project. The project will assess baseline groundwater levels, water, sewer, and stormwater infrastructure, and the vulnerabilities the built environment faces from rising water table levels in Portsmouth stemming from sea level rise.

The City of Portsmouth and their consultants SLR International Corporation (SLR) will host a public meeting on the South Mill Pond Playground Improvement Project on Monday, October 28, 2024 at 6 pm in Council Chambers at City Hall. The public is invited to attend to hear from the project team about existing conditions, see results of the online survey, and learn about the next steps for the playground improvements.

About the Project

Governor Sununu and the Executive Council at their September 25, 2024 meeting authorized the NH Department of Transportation (NHDOT) to enter into a contract with Northeast Earth Mechanics, LLC of Pittsfield, NH for the construction of sound abatement walls and privacy fencing along I-95 in Portsmouth. The contract amount is $18,771,486.75. The next step is for NHDOT to issue a Notice to Proceed to the contractor.

The demolition of the five-story, mixed-use, brick and masonry building located at 278 State Street, is scheduled to take place starting at approximately 11:30 pm on Monday, September 30, 2024. The intersection of State Street and Pleasant Street will be temporarily closed starting at 11:00 pm. It is anticipated that the roadway will be cleared and reopened by 6:00 am on Tuesday, October 1. Temporary lighting will be in place for all of the work overnight.