Water System Report NH

Portsmouth Water Works

EPA ID: NH1951010 ยท 33,000 people served ยท 5 ZIP codes

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Portsmouth Water Works (NH1951010): no EPA violations recorded in the last five years. Five years of EPA monitoring have produced no violations for Portsmouth Water Works - the supplier serving 33,000 residents has kept every contaminant level within federal limits, a result that places it among the top-performing utilities for systems with a service population of comparable size.

Data: EPA SDWIS

C ยท 66
Avg Safety Score
33,000
People Served
5
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
Zone 2
Radon Risk ยท Moderate
0
Contaminants Flagged
$648K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Portsmouth Water Works Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary - Grade C

Service Area Demographics

$127,772
Median Household Income
66,491
Service Area Population
2%
Disadvantaged Population
22th
Poverty Percentile
62th
Energy Burden Percentile
64%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Portsmouth Water Works serves a community with a median household income of $127,772 and an estimated 66,491 residents across its service area. Approximately 64% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

๐ŸŒŠ Where Does Your Water Come From?

Surface Water

Portsmouth Water Works's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap.

Moderate Risk
Source Contamination Risk
30th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
80th
Superfund Site Proximity

Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 80th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites.

Infrastructure Risk

57 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
13 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 81% of expected lifespan used End of life

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 32 detections recorded. 8 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS).

State limits: PFOA: 0.012 ppt, PFOS: 0.015 ppt, PFHxS: 0.018 ppt, PFNA: 0.011 ppt
Health concern: PFAS are linked to cancer, thyroid disease, immune suppression, and developmental effects. They do not break down naturally.
Recommended filter: Reverse osmosis (RO) or activated carbon filters certified for PFAS removal. Find the right filter โ†’

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in New Hampshire

Aquarion Water/nh
34,000 people
C 2 violations
Keene Water Department
30,000 people
B 0 violations
Dover Water Department
29,000 people
1 violation
B 25 violations
1 violation

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation PFAS Treatment Water Filtration
Flood Insurance $1,200
Radon Mitigation $720
PFAS Treatment $480
Water Filtration $120
Total Estimated Cost $2,520

Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.

Cost of Inaction

If water quality issues in this service area are not addressed, the estimated financial impact per household is:

PFAS Exposure - Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$165
10 years
$330
20 years
$660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $2,520 (one-time) vs. $330 in estimated inaction costs over 10 years.

Estimates based on published EPA, CDC, and peer-reviewed research. Individual costs vary by household size, property, and health factors. These are conservative lower-bound estimates intended for awareness, not financial advice.

System Overview

Portsmouth Water Works (EPA ID: NH1951010) is a community water system in New Hampshire that serves approximately 33,000 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 5 ZIP codes across 5 communities.

ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: C (66/100)

This is the average Home Safety Score for 3 of 5 service-area ZIP codes with all required score domains observed. It is not a grade for the water utility.

Model 4.0.0 uses SDWIS identity plus accepted ECHO SDWA lifecycle-based water compliance, the UCMR 5 PFAS MCL screen, EPA radon zone, and annual EPA AirData AQI across three equally weighted domains. Missing required evidence suppresses the score.

Violation History

No accepted violation records in the 2021-2026 window - The accepted EPA ECHO 2026Q2 snapshot contains zero violation records for this system whose record year falls from 2021 through 2026, inclusive. This is not a tap-water safety guarantee.

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule evidence attributed directly to this water system:

Lead Level Exceeds Action Level Sample Date
0 mg/L No N/A

No copper action-level exceedance record appears for this PWSID in the accepted LCR snapshot. This does not establish a clean copper measurement.

Radon Risk in Service Area

Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)

The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.

Need help with your water quality?

Typical cost: Water test: typically $20โ€“$50 (DIY kit) ยท Professional inspection: $150โ€“$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking โ€” this helps flush lead from your pipes.

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: Service area ZIP codes sourced from EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 (March 2026 release). These ZIPs reflect the actual deployment footprint recorded by NH or modeled from parcel and building-footprint data.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Portsmouth Water Works (NH1951010) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Portsmouth Water Works water safe to drink?

The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot contains zero violation records for Portsmouth Water Works in the inclusive 2021-2026 record-year window. This is a compliance-record finding, not a guarantee about water at a specific tap.

How many people does Portsmouth Water Works serve?

Portsmouth Water Works serves approximately 33,000 people across 5 ZIP codes in New Hampshire.

Where does Portsmouth Water Works get its water?

The primary water source is surface water.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Detected

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). PFAS compounds were detected below the current state-enforceable MCL.

Samples collected
522
Detections
30
Latest sample
2/7/2024
Highest analyte
PFBS: 9 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFBS 9 ppt โ€” โ€”
PFPeA 7 ppt โ€” โ€”
PFOA 7 ppt 10 ppt Above 2029 federal MCL
PFHxA 6 ppt โ€” โ€”
PFBA 5 ppt โ€” โ€”
PFOS 5 ppt 10 ppt Above 2029 federal MCL

Current MCL reflects the lowest state-enforceable limit (NYS 10 ppt for PFOA/PFOS, effective August 2020). The federal final MCL of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS (EPA April 2024 rule) is not enforceable until April 2029. Detections above 4 ppt but below 10 ppt are below current MCL but above the future federal limit.

Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) โ€” per-system federal sampling, 2023โ€“2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program โ†’

Understand PFAS health context and filtration โ†’

How Water Systems Appear in Rankings

Water systems are evaluated by violation history, contaminant detections, and service population. Larger systems with more service connections appear in more rankings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from Portsmouth Water Works safe to drink?
Portsmouth Water Works has a C safety grade based on 0 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits - independent testing is recommended.
Should I use a water filter?
Portsmouth Water Works meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does Portsmouth Water Works serve?
Portsmouth Water Works serves approximately 33,000 people with drinking water across 5 ZIP codes.
What is Portsmouth Water Works's water source?
Portsmouth Water Works draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
What is the demographic profile of Portsmouth Water Works's service area?
The Portsmouth Water Works service area has a median household income of $127,772. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Portsmouth Water Works get its water?
Portsmouth Water Works's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap. Based on available data, the source contamination risk is moderate.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Portsmouth Water Works, NH: Serves 33K People. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/nh1951010/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-nh1951010,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Portsmouth Water Works, NH: Serves 33K People}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/nh1951010/}
}

What You Can Do

1

Test your water

Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter โ†’

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report โ†’

3

Contact your utility

Portsmouth Water Works (EPA ID: NH1951010) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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