Portsmouth police checked on four juveniles after a report that children were living in unsanitary conditions without running water.
Officers responded to the home around 5 p.m. and spoke with both parents.
Police said the home was in poor condition but still livable. Officers also noted there was food and drinks inside the residence.
When asked about the water situation, both parents said the home’s hot water tank was broken and had a large leak, which caused their water bill to rise sharply.
The parents told officers they were taking the children to their grandparents’ home for bathing and hygiene needs until repairs could be made.
They also said they were actively trying to get the hot water tank fixed.
Police advised both parents that officers would follow up in one week to check on progress and confirm whether the water issue had been resolved.
No charges were listed in the information provided.
Calls like this can fall into a gray area. A struggling home is not automatically a criminal case, especially if there is food, the children have access to hygiene somewhere else, and the parents are trying to fix the problem.
But no running water is still a serious concern, especially when children are involved.
That is why officers documented the situation and set a follow-up instead of simply closing the call and moving on.
