Portsmouth, NH FY2027 Commercial Water and Sewer Rates: Tiered Bill Checks
Portsmouth’s FY2027 schedule uses three cumulative water and sewer tiers plus meter-size fixed fees. See a bounded 1-inch commercial bill model.
Direct answer
Effective July 1, 2026, Portsmouth bills retail water and sewer through three cumulative tiers plus meter-size monthly fixed fees. For one declared 1-inch account, 100 to 80 units changes the included total from $3,028.58 to $2,416.18—a $612.40 usage-linked difference—while the $31.63 fixed charge stays unchanged. Irrigation, fire service, surcharges, penalties, and other account lines are excluded.
748 gal
One billing unit
100 cubic feet of metered water
3 tiers
Usage structure
Applied cumulatively each month
$31.63
One-inch fixed
Monthly water plus sewer charges
$612.40
Modeled difference
Included lines at 100 → 80 units
Account and bill-line map
Classify the Portsmouth service path before modeling volume
The adopted schedule separates cumulative retail water and sewer tiers from meter-size fixed charges, certified irrigation, fire service, and account-specific fees. The declared model uses one standard 1-inch main-meter path.
| Account or bill fact | FY2027 treatment |
|---|---|
| Main-meter water and sewer | Water and sewer each use three cumulative monthly tiers. Sewer charges are based on metered water consumption, subject to the actual account treatment. |
| One-inch meter | Monthly fixed charges are $18.23 for water and $13.40 for sewer, or $31.63 combined. Lower modeled volume does not change them. |
| Certified irrigation system | The City lists a separate three-tier water schedule for certified irrigation systems. Confirm the meter and actual sewer treatment instead of applying the main-meter model. |
| Private fire service | A separate monthly fire-service charge applies by service size. It is fixed and outside the usage model. |
| High-strength or industrial wastewater | The billing page identifies BOD and TSS charges for some large industrial customers. Confirm the current account-specific assessment directly. |
| Other account lines | Penalties, taxes, capacity or connection charges, adjustments, stormwater if present, and other special fees are excluded from the declared example. |
Official adoption record
Portsmouth adopted the new structure for July 1, 2026
The City’s June 23 FY27 update says the adopted budget changes its water and sewer rate structure, rates, and fees effective July 1, 2026. The current billing page says City Council adopted the FY27 consumption rates on June 8 and bills all customers monthly.
The March rate study documents commercial and industrial customer classes and shows 1-inch commercial examples at 25, 50, 75, and 100 units. It supports commercial applicability, while the adopted update and current billing page control the exact FY27 values used here.
Cumulative usage tiers
The first ten units stay in lower bands before Tier 3 begins
One Portsmouth unit equals 100 cubic feet, or 748 gallons. Water is $4.56 per unit for the first five units, $6.17 for units six through ten, and $7.61 for each unit above ten.
Sewer follows the same cumulative boundaries at $17.47, $20.03, and $23.01 per unit. A 100-unit account therefore does not price every unit at Tier 3: the first five and next five retain their lower rates.
Meter and service boundary
Main-meter sewer and certified irrigation require different checks
Portsmouth says sewer charges are based on water consumption, so an operator should compare billed water units with billed sewer units before using the standard example. An adjustment, separate meter, or account treatment can change that relationship.
The City separately lists certified irrigation rates of $8.91 for the first ten units, $14.48 for units 11 through 20, and $17.27 above 20. Confirm that the property and meter qualify for that schedule and inspect the actual bill rather than assuming every outdoor gallon avoids sewer.
Fixed and special lines
Meter size creates a floor that lower usage does not remove
A 1-inch account carries $18.23 in monthly fixed water charges and $13.40 in fixed sewer charges. Larger meters carry higher fixed amounts, so the account’s actual meter size belongs in every forecast.
Private fire service has its own fixed schedule, and the billing page identifies other fees including high-strength wastewater, permits, capacity, penalties, and service work. These lines require their own ledger and remain outside the model.
Commercial implication
Tier 3 water and sewer create the largest usage-linked exposure
Hotels, restaurants, multifamily buildings, offices, laundries, healthcare properties, campuses, and industrial sites should record the meter size, water units, sewer units, irrigation meters, fire service, and every special line before forecasting.
The calculation below is Smart Valve analysis for one declared 1-inch main-meter account. It uses exact adopted rates and changes volume from 100 to 80 units; it is not a City bill quote, a citywide average, or a guaranteed operational result.
Smart Valve analysis — declared one-inch account
One main-meter account at 100 versus 80 units
Assume one monthly 1-inch account, equal billed water and sewer units, and the adopted cumulative tiers. Include only fixed water, fixed sewer, water usage, and sewer usage.
Scroll the table horizontally to compare all columns.
| Included line | 100 units | 80 units | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water: $18.23 fixed + cumulative usage | $756.78 | $604.58 | $152.20 |
| Sewer: $13.40 fixed + cumulative usage | $2,271.80 | $1,811.60 | $460.20 |
| Included water + sewer total | $3,028.58 | $2,416.18 | $612.40 |
The $612.40 difference equals 20 fewer Tier 3 units at the combined $30.62 water-and-sewer rate. The $31.63 combined fixed charge stays in both totals. Certified irrigation, fire service, strength charges, penalties, capacity, taxes, adjustments, stormwater if present, and other special lines remain outside the calculation.
Decision checklist
What to check first on the bill
- 1Confirm the service period is under the adopted FY27 schedule effective July 1, 2026.
- 2Match every account to its meter size and separate monthly water and sewer fixed charges.
- 3Read the tiered water units and billed sewer units independently before assuming they match.
- 4Identify any certified irrigation meter and confirm its schedule and actual sewer treatment.
- 5Separate private fire, high-strength wastewater, penalties, capacity, tax, adjustment, stormwater, and other special lines.
- 6Use the actual account and operating baseline before treating the declared 20% comparison as achievable.
Scope boundary
Where Smart Valve realistically fits
Smart Valve can help a commercial team review controllable metered use and model the usage-linked water and sewer lines after the meter, class, and billed volumes are confirmed. The declared example keeps the fixed charge and cumulative tiers visible.
Smart Valve does not change meter-size fixed charges, tariff tiers, irrigation certification, fire service, wastewater strength, penalties, capacity, stormwater, taxes, or other utility rules. A property-specific assessment must begin with actual bills and operating conditions.
Related commercial water decisions
Track New England water-cost decisions
Follow adopted rates, sewer funding, drought, and infrastructure signals across the region.
Separate fixed and usage-linked bill lines
Map meter, volume, sewer, and special charges before forecasting.
Review the hotel water-cost decision path
Connect guest-room, laundry, kitchen, cooling, and irrigation loads to the actual bill.
Review source and estimate boundaries
See how official facts, Smart Valve calculations, and assumptions are separated.
Frequently asked questions
How do Portsmouth’s FY27 commercial water and sewer tiers work?
The tiers are cumulative each month. The first five units use Tier 1, units six through ten use Tier 2, and every unit above ten uses Tier 3 for both standard water and sewer.
What are Portsmouth’s FY27 fixed charges for a 1-inch meter?
The City lists an $18.23 monthly water fixed charge and a $13.40 monthly sewer fixed charge for a 1-inch meter, or $31.63 combined.
Does Portsmouth use the same schedule for certified irrigation?
No. Portsmouth lists a separate three-tier water schedule for certified irrigation systems. Confirm the meter, certification, and actual sewer treatment before applying it to a property.
What does the $612.40 Portsmouth model include?
It includes one 1-inch water fixed charge, one sewer fixed charge, cumulative water usage, and cumulative sewer usage at 100 versus 80 units. It excludes irrigation, fire service, strength charges, penalties, capacity, taxes, adjustments, stormwater if present, and all other account-specific lines.
Primary source trail
Sources and retrieval details
Published: June 23, 2026Effective: July 1, 2026Retrieved: July 24, 2026
Controlling adopted-rate source for the FY27 effective date, unit definition, cumulative water/sewer tiers, certified-irrigation tiers, and meter-size fixed charges.
Source URL: https://www.portsmouthnh.gov/publicworks/water/news/fy27-rate-and-fee-update
Published: Current FY27 billing pageEffective: July 1, 2026Status checked: July 24, 2026Retrieved: July 24, 2026
Current source for monthly billing, sewer based on water consumption, irrigation and fire schedules, penalties, and the existence of special water/sewer fees.
Source URL: https://www.portsmouthnh.gov/publicworks/water/water-sewer-billing
Published: March 2, 2026Retrieved: July 24, 2026
Supporting source for commercial and industrial applicability, customer-class usage, rate-design drivers, and the official 1-inch commercial examples; not the adoption authority.
Audit the Portsmouth account before forecasting a reduction
Use the actual meter, water and sewer units, irrigation treatment, and special lines. The declared model explains the usage-linked exposure but does not replace the utility bill or promise a result.