PORTSMOUTH — They each had the same problem, so the Portsmouth Water and Fire District (PWFD) and the town’s Department of Public Works (DPW) combined forces to solve it.

For the past couple of weeks, workers from the PWFD — a quasi-municipal agency separate from the Town of Portsmouth — and DPW have partnered to extend and connect the water main in the Town Access Road leading from the fire and police stations to the DPW garage. 

“This is a project we’ve been talking about since I started at the district and way back before I was here,” said Jessica Lynch, the PWFD’s general manager and chief engineer, explaining that about 670 feet of the road lacked a water main.

“Previously, the water line dead-ended right at the end of DPW. Then there’s a dead end at the fire station. Our ultimate goal was to connect the two lines so that if there was a water main break, we’d be able to serve either side. It gives better flow for our system and better firefighting capabilities,” Lynch said.

She was with DPW Director Brian Woodhead last Thursday as they watched work on the project progress. 

“I think it’s a great partnership,” Woodhead said. “We’re looping our water line from DPW up to the fire department and I think it’s going to be a huge asset to the town.”

The town allocated American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for the project, which provided some needed financial relief.

“It’s not something that’s been carried in the budget, and we’ve been talking about this for years. It’s a chunk of change if you don’t have the money handy,” said Lynch.

Originally, she said, DPW received a quote for the installation of 700 feet of 8-inch ductile iron pipe in the amount of $110,877. After discussions with DPW, it was decided the two agencies would partner to complete the project. PWFD is donating labor and inspection time for the installation of the water main, and DPW is performing all excavation, she said.

The town will purchase water main materials through PWFD at cost, and the joint project will save the town approximately $55,000, according to Lynch.

“I feel like Portsmouth Water and DPW always work well together,” Lynch said.