The Portsmouth Water and Fire District is a quasi-municipal, governmental agency created in 1952 by act of the Rhode Island General Assembly. The District was created to obtain and maintain for the District a supply of water for the extinguishing of fire, and for distribution to the inhabitants of the district, for domestic use and for other purposes. Essentially, the boundaries of the District's service area include all of Portsmouth on Aquidneck Island with the exception of the area in the southwest corner of town, including Redwood Farms, Bay View Apartments and Condominiums, Raytheon, Melville Navy Housing and the Navy Base, all of which is serviced by Newport Water.
The District is governed by a seven-member Administrative Board, which is elected by the registered voters within the District. The District holds an annual election of officers on the second Wednesday in June. The Board meets on the third Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. at the district's main office.
Although the Portsmouth Water and Fire District is not affiliated legally or administratively with the Town of Portsmouth government, the District and Town work cooperatively to best serve their common constituents.