The Portsmouth Water Storage Tank Rehabilitation Project is scheduled to begin on September 2, 2026, with the draining and disconnection of the City’s one-million-gallon water storage tank located on Spinney Road. This tank will be offline from September 2 to November 6, 2026, for painting and maintenance activities. The project may result in slight pressure variations in the Portsmouth water distribution system over the duration of the project, but otherwise this project is not anticipated to affect customer water service.

The City of Portsmouth’s water supply sources have continued to perform reliably despite ongoing drought conditions that began in June 2025. The Seacoast region remains in a Moderate Drought (D1) classification, with a small portion of the area still experiencing Severe Drought (D2) conditions. While groundwater levels remain below typical seasonal averages, storage in the Bellamy Reservoir has remained stable and sufficient through the first half of 2026.

Effective July 1, 2026, the City of Portsmouth will implement changes to its water and sewer utility rate structure, rates, and fees as part of the adopted Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) Budget. These changes are based on recommendations from the City's recent Water and Sewer Rate Study.

Understanding Your Water and Sewer Bill

Water and sewer bills consist of two components: