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Portsmouth, NH Tap Water Quality 2026

Water quality report for Portsmouth, NH — PFAS, lead and copper results, violation history and state inspection findings from EPA SDWIS.

A look at Portsmouth's drinking water using EPA enforcement records: violations, lead and copper results, PFAS sampling and state inspection findings.

Main Utility: Portsmouth Water Works PWSID: NH1951010 Updated: 2026 Q2
⚠️

PFAS above the federal limit at 1 of 8 sampling points

Lead was not detected and no violations are open. However, PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 1 of 8 sampling points, running as high as 1.5 times the limit.

C

Portsmouth earns a C for water quality

Graded on violations, lead, and PFAS, with state inspection findings.

Lead: not detected
PFAS above the federal limit at 1 of 8 sampling points
No violations since 2015
No violations currently open
Portsmouth's lead level vs. all New Hampshire community water systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
Lead level: Not detected — 0% of the federal action level
✓ Lower lead than % of New Hampshire utilities
Population Served
21228
~7200 connections
Water Source
Surface water
Drawn from surface water — SDWIS source code SW
Active Violations
0
None on record since 2015

Lead & Copper Testing

Lead (Pb)
90th percentile of tap samples collected across the distribution system
0% of EPA action level
Not detected
Action level: 15 ppb
Copper (Cu)
90th percentile of tap samples. SDWIS reports a copper figure only when a system exceeds the action level, so any value here is an exceedance.
110% of EPA action level
1,430 ppb
Action level: 1,300 ppb
Lead was not detected at the 90th percentile — the result fell below the laboratory detection limit. That is not the same as an absence of lead in every tap, and older homes with lead service lines can still show higher readings. Copper reached the action level here; a copper figure appears in SDWIS only when a system triggers it.

Contaminant Violations (2015–Present)

✓ No violations on record for this water system.
Understanding violation types MCL violations mean a contaminant exceeded the federal maximum limit — the most serious type.
TT (Treatment Technique) violations mean required treatment procedures weren't followed, but don't necessarily mean contamination occurred.

Violation History

No violations are on record for this system since 2015. EPA records violations for every community water system, so this reflects a clean compliance history rather than missing data.

About the Main Water System

Utility Portsmouth Water Works
PWSID NH1951010
Water source Surface water — Drawn from surface water — SDWIS source code SW
Population served 21,228
Service connections 7,200
Systems serving this area 3
Regulator State primacy agency
Data through 2026 Q2 — EPA SDWIS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Portsmouth tap water safe to drink? ▼
It meets most federal standards, but PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 1 of 8 sampling points. No violations are currently open.
Does Portsmouth water have PFAS? ▼
Yes. PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 1 of 8 sampling points, running as high as 1.5 times the limit. Limits are enforced on a running annual average at each sampling point, not on a single sample.
Who supplies water to Portsmouth? ▼
Portsmouth Water Works (PWSID NH1951010), one of 3 systems serving this area. Surface water. Drawn from surface water — SDWIS source code SW
When was this system last inspected? ▼
It was last inspected on 2025-07-31. No significant deficiencies were recorded.

What Should Portsmouth Residents Do?

1
Consider a reverse-osmosis filter
Reverse osmosis removes more than 95% of PFAS. Standard carbon pitchers do not.
2
Check for a lead service line
Lead reaches tap water mainly through service lines and household plumbing. Suppliers now publish an inventory identifying lead lines.
3
Flush before drinking
If water has sat in pipes more than six hours, run the cold tap for two minutes before drinking or cooking.

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