Public water system · IA8365052
ActivePortsmouth Water Supply
At a glance
Portsmouth Water Supply (PWSID IA8365052) is an active community water system in Shelby County, Iowa. It reports serving 189 people through 114 service connections. Its primary water source is purchased surface water, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. EPA's records list 4 violations for this system; 2 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 1993.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
189
Service connections
114
Primary source
SWP
Purchased surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Portsmouth Water Supply compare with other water systems in Shelby County?
By EPA's size categories, Portsmouth Water Supply is a very small system (500 people or fewer). Shelby County has 8 active public water systems. Its population served is well below the county average of 976 people per system, and accounts for 2.4% of the 7,809 people reported by systems filed under the county. Across Iowa, the 1,828 active systems average 1,718 people each. Nationally, the average active community water system reports serving 6,703 people, so Portsmouth Water Supply is well below that figure.
What does “community water system” mean?
A community water system serves at least 15 connections used by year-round residents, or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. Homes, apartments and mobile-home parks are served by these. Iowa has 1,084 active community water systems, 59% of the state's 1,828 active systems. Purchased surface water means the system buys surface water from another public water system rather than drawing its own. 119 Iowa systems (6.5%) list purchased surface water as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Portsmouth Water Supply?
EPA lists Portsmouth Water Supply as owned by a local government. The IA state drinking water program is its primacy agency, the regulator with primary enforcement responsibility for the system under the Safe Drinking Water Act. 8 of the 8 active systems in Shelby County (100%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Portsmouth Water Supply have drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 4 violations for this system; 2 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 1993. The violations listed here began between February 1993 and July 1993. By type: 2 contaminant level above the legal limit and 2 monitoring and reporting. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total coliform bacteria (TCR) (4 of them). EPA lists 4 as resolved. Resolved means at least one resolving action is on record: the system returned to compliance, the rule no longer applies, or no further action was needed.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993-07-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Acute (TCR) · code 21 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1993-07-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1993-03-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 1993-02-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
All 4 violations in EPA's records, newest first.Labels and codes come from EPA's SDWIS reference tables. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found. "Health-based" marks violations of a legal limit or required treatment.
Portsmouth Water Supply: frequently asked questions
Who runs Portsmouth Water Supply?
Portsmouth Water Supply (PWSID IA8365052) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the IA state drinking water program.
How many people does Portsmouth Water Supply serve?
Portsmouth Water Supply reports serving 189 people through 114 service connections in Shelby County, Iowa.
Where does Portsmouth Water Supply get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as purchased surface water. Purchased surface water means the system buys surface water from another public water system rather than drawing its own.
Does Portsmouth Water Supply have any drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 4 violations for this system; 2 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 1993. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found.
Is Portsmouth Water Supply's water safe to drink?
AquaCensus shows EPA compliance records, not current water test results, so it cannot say whether the water is safe at a given moment. EPA's records list 4 violations for this system; 2 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 1993. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the IA state drinking water program.
Where can I find Portsmouth Water Supply's water quality report?
As a community water system, Portsmouth Water Supply must deliver an annual water quality report, called a Consumer Confidence Report, to its customers by July 1 each year, covering the previous calendar year. The system can provide a copy on request.
Other water systems in Shelby County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harlan Municipal Utilities | Shelby | 5,067 | Community | Groundwater |
| Shelby Water Supply | Shelby | 727 | Community | Groundwater |
| Elk Horn Muni Water Works | Shelby | 631 | Community | Groundwater |
| Earling Water Supply | Shelby | 397 | Community | Purchased groundwater |
| Irwin Municipal Supply | Shelby | 313 | Community | Purchased groundwater |
| Defiance Water Department | Shelby | 250 | Community | Groundwater |
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About this data
Source: U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and SDWA violation records, via EPA ECHO, as published October 1, 2026 — AquaCensus refreshes it quarterly. See the methodology for how records are matched, cleaned and scored.
Cite as: AquaCensus, “Portsmouth Water Supply, PWSID IA8365052, Iowa”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/iowa/portsmouth-water-supply-ia8365052 (data as of October 1, 2026).