Where Portsmouth Water Comes From

Portsmouth’s drinking water comes from a combination of surface water and groundwater sources. Surface water is stored in several reservoirs including Lake Meade, Lake Cohoon, Lake Kilby, and the Speight’s Run Reservoir.

The system also uses deep groundwater wells to supplement supply. These water sources provide drinking water to Portsmouth and customers in neighboring Hampton Roads communities. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

How Portsmouth Water Is Treated

Raw water from the reservoirs and wells is treated at the City of Portsmouth’s municipal water treatment facility before being distributed through the city’s drinking water system.

Treatment typically includes coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection to remove particles, microorganisms, and other contaminants. Continuous monitoring and laboratory testing ensure that drinking water meets federal and state safety standards.

Official Portsmouth Water Quality Report

The City of Portsmouth publishes an annual Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence Report) summarizing water sources, treatment processes, and regulated contaminant testing results.

View the 2024 Report on This Page

Source: City of Portsmouth Department of Public Utilities — official annual Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence Report).

Additional Water Information (EWG Database)

Some homeowners also explore third-party water databases such as the Environmental Working Group (EWG) Tap Water Database, which compiles publicly available drinking water testing results.