The Portsmouth Water System’s new water treatment plant in Madbury has earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design silver certification. According to Portsmouth city manager John Bohenko, the plant is expected to reflect energy savings of more than 24 percent, or $35,000 per year.

The $20 million plant went into operation last year, replacing a 50-year-old facility at the same site. It provides drinking water to customers in Portsmouth, Newington and New Castle, as well as parts of Madbury, Rye, Greenland, Dover and Durham.

The U.S. Green Building Council awards LEED certification to buildings based on six areas of environmental design. Portsmouth Public Library was the first municipal building in the state to receive LEED certification, and Portsmouth’s Fire Station 2 was New Hampshire’s first LEED-certified fire station. Now the Seacoast can also claim the state’s first LEED-certified water treatment plant.