We read 14 results from Portsmouth Water & Fire District’s 2025 water quality report. No results over a legal limit; 4 above a health goal or guideline.
Serves about 17,090 people · Water system ID RI1592022 · Read the district’s 2025 report (opens in a new tab)
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Results from the 2025 report
Each number is copied from the district’s report and links to the page it’s printed on. Where the report lists several plants, wells or purchased water, the highest is shown.
| Contaminant | Result | Health goal | Legal limit | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chloriteas reported · range ND to 0.53 · 2025 report, page 4 | 0.48 ppm | 0.05 ppm | 1 ppm | Above the health goal9.6x the health goal |
| Ironhighest measured · range ND to 0.9 · Newport Water raw/entry point · 2025 report, page 4 | 0.9 ppm | — | 0.3 ppm guideline | Above the guideline3x the guideline (taste, odor or stains; not a health limit) |
| PFOA (a PFAS)highest measured · range ND to 2.97 · 2025 report, page 4 | 2.97 ppt | 0.007 ppt | 20 ppt (Rhode Island) now; 4 ppt from 2029 | Above the health goal424x the health goal |
| PFOS (a PFAS)highest measured · range ND to 1.18 · 2025 report, page 4 | 1.18 ppt | 1 ppt | 20 ppt (Rhode Island) now; 4 ppt from 2029 | Above the health goal1.2x the health goal |
| Bariumas reported · range 0.005 to 0.01 · Newport Water raw/entry point · 2025 report, page 4 | 0.005 ppm | 2 ppm | 2 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Chlorineaverage · range 0.3 to 2.12 · 2025 report, page 4 | 1.18 ppm | None set | 4 ppm | Below the legal limit |
| Chlorine dioxidehighest measured · range 10 to 740 · 2025 report, page 4 | 740 ppb | None set | 800 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Copper90th percentile of 33 homes tested, 0 over the action level · sampled 2024 · 2025 report, page 4 | 0.04 ppm | 0.3 ppm | 1.3 ppm (action level) | Below the health goal |
| Disinfection byproducts (HAA5)highest running annual average · range 8.6 to 20.6 · 2025 report, page 4 | 21.4 ppb | None set | 60 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (TTHM)highest running annual average · range 35.3 to 105 · 2025 report, page 4 | 73.3 ppb | None set | 80 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Fluoridehighest measured · range 0.01 to 0.34 · 2025 report, page 4 | 0.34 ppm | 1 ppm | 4 ppm | Below the health goal |
| PFHxS (a PFAS)highest measured · range ND to 1.4 · 2025 report, page 4 | 1.4 ppt | None set | 20 ppt (Rhode Island) now; 10 ppt from 2029 | Below the legal limit |
| PFAS (total of measured)highest measured · range ND to 7.33 · 2025 report, page 4 | 7.33 ppt | None set | None | No health limit |
| Sodiumas reported · range 26.6 to 32.8 · 2025 report, page 4 | 32.3 ppm | None set | None | No health limit |
Utility results describe the whole system, measured where water enters the pipes, not your tap. Your home’s plumbing can add lead or copper. 2 numbers we weren’t sure about are held back until a person checks.
What you can do
Nothing here is an emergency notice: if the district has a violation, it must tell customers directly. If you’d like to lower these at your tap, these are the treatments that remove them, and the catalog shows the models certified for each. Ranking is by certified removal; commissions never change the order.
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
Found: PFOA (a PFAS), PFOS (a PFAS)
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
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