Portsmouth schedules public hearing to seek up to $3.5M from NH Drinking Water SRF for service line work

The Portsmouth City Council voted Tuesday to schedule a Feb. 3 public hearing on authorization to borrow up to $3.5 million from the New Hampshire Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) to help homeowners and businesses replace galvanized or lead service lines and to fund inventory and compliance work.

The city manager said the loan program includes substantial forgiveness — the staff presentation cited a 71% forgiveness factor for the city — and that the city plans to make funds available to eligible private customers to reduce the financial burden of required service‑line work. Water resources manager Al Pratt will present details at the Feb. 3 meeting.

Councillors noted the work ties to federal EPA requirements to inventory and remediate lead and galvanized services and that borrowers may receive substantial forgiveness and low‑cost financing through the SRF. Council discussion emphasized the need for clear public outreach and website information to explain the program to residents who have already received notifications about possible lead or galvanized lines.

Why it matters: The SRF funding would provide a pathway for property owners to replace suspect service lines without bearing the full cost up front. Councilors said proactive assistance reduces future compliance risk and provides equity for households that could not afford costly replacements.

What’s next: City staff will present details at the Feb. 3 hearing, including program eligibility, the forgiveness calculation and the mechanics for distributing assistance to property owners. The council must authorize borrowing at a later meeting following the hearing if it chooses to proceed.