DPW Resumes Water Service Line Inventory "Potholing" in Maple Haven Neighborhood

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.

Due to the split ownership of a domestic water service, both the City-owned and water customer-owned portions require inspection to meet regulatory compliance. The customer-owned side of a service line can be visually inspected at the service line entry point to a home or place of business. The City-owned side must be excavated using a vacuum truck to excavate around the water shutoff valve so the service line material can be identified. This process, referred to as “potholing,” disturbs the soil and pavement around the valve. Impacts will be minimized, and the excavations will be backfilled, loamed, seeded, and patched as needed.

This potholing effort begun last fall resumes in the Maple Haven neighborhood starting the week of March 30, 2026 in targeted locations where service line materials are still unknown. Residents in those areas received a notification letter before work began.