Andrea Amico, co-chair of the Portsmouth Safe Water Advisory Group (SWAG), briefed the council on the group’s end-of-term summary and recommendations, asking the council to renew SWAG for another two‑year term, broaden its mission beyond a primary focus on PFAS, and increase resident membership from four to five.

Amico described SWAG’s regular work: quarterly updates from staff on water supply and demand, tracking contaminants of concern, monitoring lead detection in schools, and discussing infrastructure topics including the Little Bay transmission main valve replacement and a sea-coast reliability study. “Since that time, we've been a productive group that meets quarterly and offers valuable information, updates and education to the residents of Portsmouth,” Amico said.

Amico said PFAS remains a recurring topic given evolving science and regulation, but recommended rewiring SWAG’s mission language to encompass a broader set of drinking-water topics including water quality, quantity, conservation, and public health impacts. She also recommended increasing resident seats to five to improve participation when members face competing obligations.

Councilors thanked Amico for the work and signaled they would take up the recommendations at a future meeting in January.