Recent News

City DPW Receives Multiple Awards for Peirce Island Wastewater Treatment Facility
December 4, 2021
Both the Water Environment Federation (WEF), a national nonprofit association that provides technical educatio...
Read MoreCity of Portsmouth DPW Begins Sewer Force Main Construction on Peirce Island on November 29
November 29, 2021
Contractors for the City of Portsmouth Department of Public Works will begin work on a project to replace sewe...
Read More
City Hosts Dedication of the $92 Million Upgraded Peirce Island Wastewater Treatment Facility
July 7, 2021
The City of Portsmouth Department of Public Works will dedicate the new Peirce Island Wastewater Treatment Fac...
Read More
DPW Survey Invites Public Comment on Fleet Street Reconstruction Design
December 15, 2021
Portsmouth DPW is launching an online survey to collect feedback from residents and business/property owners a...
Read More
Sewer Division Information
For a brief video introduction to the Sewer Division, please click here.
Sewage collection and treatment is the responsibility of the Sewer Division of the Department of Public Works (DPW). This division maintains and operates the City’s wastewater system. The wastewater system includes:
- 122 miles of sewer collection system
- 20 wastewater pump stations
- 3 EPA permitted combined sewer overflows
- 2 Wastewater Treatment Facilities (WWTF)
- Peirce Island Wastewater Treatment Facility
- Pease Wastewater Treatment Facility
The City’s sewer system provides service to over 90% of the City’s developed land area. There are some areas of the City that do not have access to a public sewer system and use septic systems for wastewater disposal. The City’s collection system extends into portions of Greenland and Rye, and the City provides treatment to all the wastewater from the Town of New Castle.
The City has a number of ongoing operational projects, capital projects and ongoing long-term programs. Major capital projects include upgrades to the Peirce Island WWTF and the Pease WWTF. The City’s long-term programs include removal of extraneous water in the sewer collection system through a sewer system evaluation survey and continued work on reducing combined sewer overflows through implementation of the City’s Long Term Control Plan.
Funding for operation of the sewer division is provided through the rate payers who contribute to the Sewer Enterprise Fund. The City has approximately 6,700 sewer customers. The City makes upgrades to components of the wastewater system through the Sewer Enterprise Fund. Many of these projects are regulatory driven. Major capital project funding needs are identified as part of the City’s Capital Improvement Plan.
For sewer related emergencies, contact the Department of Public Works Dispatch at (603) 427-1530.
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There was a sewage discharge event from the combined sewer outfall pipe at site 10A to South Mill Pond. Crews have responded and are working to address any issues.

A combined sewer overflow (CSO) event has occurred at Site 10A to South Mill Pond. For more information on CSOs in the City of Portsmouth please visit the City's website. https://t.co/bmc9bw62We

A combined sewer overflow (CSO) event has occurred at Site 10A to South Mill Pond. For more information on CSOs in the City of Portsmouth please visit the City's website. https://t.co/bmc9bw62We

There was a combined sewer overflow at Site 013 (Deer St) to the Piscataqua River Saturday night/Sunday morning. For more information on combined sewer overflows in Portsmouth, please visit the City’s website. https://t.co/bmc9bw62We