Water News

*April 24, 2018 Update: The entire supply of compost bins is now gone.

As we approach Earth Day this Sunday, April 22nd, the City of Portsmouth continues to work to make food waste composting easier for residents.

On Wednesday evening, March 28th, between the hours of 8 p.m. and 10 p.m., the Portsmouth Water Department will be shutting off the water main on Green Street. The purpose of this shut down is to allow crews to install a new valve, and cut and cap the main on both sides of the railroad tracks for the NH DOT replacement of the tracks at the road crossing.

When the water mains are turned back on, those within that area may experience some air or discoloration. Please run your COLD water for a few minutes and it should clear; there is no danger associated with this color. 

Brian Goetz, Portsmouth’s Deputy Director of Public Works, received the 2017 Award of Merit from the New England Water Works Association (NEWWA), the region’s largest and oldest not-for-profit organization of water works professionals.

Extreme cold temperatures are continuing well into 2018, and the Portsmouth Water Department wants to remind residents of the importance of protecting their pipes. Please review this page to understand your responsibilities and helpful tips to prevent your pipes from freezing.

The Water Department will begin their twice annual routine hydrant flushing of the City’s 190 miles of water mains to remove sediment buildup on Monday, October 16th. This work will occur on both public and private hydrants spanning New Castle, Rye, Greenland, Newington and Portsmouth, lasting about six to eight weeks. Between 8:00 p.m. and midnight, Monday through Thursday, crews will open select fire hydrants, releasing water with enough velocity to carry sediment out of the pipes. While flushing can result in discolorations to tap water, the water remains safe for residents to drink.

Portsmouth’s Water Division issues a monthly Water Supply Status Report to keep customers appraised of the current water supply conditions. This resource provides customers detailed information on any potential water restrictions, demand, precipitation, groundwater levels, river flows and reservoir levels to make customers aware not only of the current conditions but to also bring awareness to their water use.

Every month, the Portsmouth Water Division issues a Water Supply Status Report to customers that provides a detailed assessment of the current water supply conditions. The September report details that while precipitation is still slightly low based on seasonal averages, the groundwater levels, reservoir levels and river flow rates are within typical ranges for this time of year. Therefore, no water use restrictions are being enforced at this time.

Each year, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires community water systems to deliver a Consumer Confidence Report – also known as an Annual Drinking Water Quality Report – to their customers. These reports, which are mailed out to water customers by July 1st, provide information about their drinking water quality including a summary of detected contaminants from the previous year, compliance, and educational information.