DPW Press Releases

CAPTION: The Wastewater Plant of the Year Award ceremony included (left to right) John Adie and Director Rene Pelletier, NH Department of Environmental Services; Terry Desmarais, Underwood Engineers/Portsmouth; City DPW staff Chris Kelly, Deputy Director Brian Goetz, Director Peter Rice, Kevin Daley, Erik Meserve, Stephen Roger, Jon Pearson, Peter Conroy (Peirce Island WWTF Chief Plant Operator), City Engineer Erich Fiedler and Aaron Bickford; Deputy City Manager Suzanne Woodland and Mayor Deaglan McEachern.

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The City of Portsmouth Department of Public Works will hold its biannual Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day on Saturday, September 23, 2023, 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. Proof of residency is required.

The Department of Public Works Parks & Greenery Division is trimming, mowing, and conducting garden maintenance as the rains of June give way to abundant plant growth. Prescott Park Garden Tours on Fridays and the seeding in recent construction areas such as Pannaway Park are seasonal reminders of the effort to sustain the urban forest, green spaces and the City’s environment.

Portsmouth & Pease Drinking Water Status Report 2023 Q2

At its July 10, 2023 meeting the Portsmouth City Council voted to approve a resolution to purchase a conservation easement to protect water quality on a property adjacent to the Bellamy Reservoir. Protecting the Bellamy Reservoir and its watershed is critical to maintaining water supply quality for the long-term in the Portsmouth Water System and the City has identified and ranked 15 adjacent parcels for protection. The Reservoir is the primary supply of fresh water treated at the City’s Madbury Water Treatment Facility and delivered to communities in the seacoast region.

City of Portsmouth Issues Annual Drinking Water Quality Reports for Portsmouth, Pease and New Castle

Portsmouth, New Hampshire – The City of Portsmouth Department of Public Works Water Division is mailing copies of the Annual Water Quality Report this week for customers served by the Portsmouth (including portions of New Castle) and Pease (serving the Pease Tradeport and a portion of Newington) Water Systems.

The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), an insect that has plagued ash trees throughout the country, including New England, has arrived in Portsmouth. Sadly, the only way to try to control the infestation is to remove the damaged trees.

The NH Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) held its annual Drinking Water Source Protection Conference in Pembroke, NH on May 16, 2023, with more than 200 NH water works operators attending.

UPDATE: Market Street between Bow and Market Square is now REOPENED to vehicles, day and night. Businesses are OPEN and pedestrian traffic continues. Parking limits still in effect.

Starting Monday May 8, 2023, the DPW sewer line work on Market Street in conjunction with the ongoing utility code compliance project between Bow and Daniel Streets requires closing the street completely overnight for several days that week.

The City of Portsmouth DPW Water Division has published the FY23 Third Quarter Portsmouth & Pease Water Systems Drinking Water Quality Report, posted on the City website.