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Community Water System · PWS RI1559518

Woonsocket Water Division

Woonsocket, Rhode Island 02895 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 45,828 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

45,828
People served
127
EPA violations
37
Health-based
5 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 127 drinking-water violations at Woonsocket Water Division, 29% of them health-based - above the Rhode Island per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 5 PFAS compounds.

127
Total EPA violations on record
29%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
45,828
People served by this system
5
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Woonsocket Water Division

Woonsocket Water Division is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 45,828 residents in Woonsocket, Rhode Island (Providence County) through 9,776 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 127 total violations for this system , of which 37 (29%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 65 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2025.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Surface Water Treatment Rule, recorded in 32 violations (TT, health-based). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 5 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 7.5 ppt (parts per trillion). PFAS are persistent synthetic chemicals linked to health effects at very low exposure levels.

Across Rhode Island, EPA tracks 463 public water systems serving 1,159,492 people, with 33,766 cumulative violations and 8,949 health-based violations on record. About 96% of systems in the state carry at least one violation, and state-wide the average per system is 72.9 violations. Statewide, 15 of 29 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (51.7%).

Woonsocket Water Division's 127 violations sit above the Rhode Island average.

All figures above are sourced directly from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 public data releases and are updated as EPA publishes new reporting cycles.

PFAS Detected

5 PFAS "forever chemicals" detected in testing under EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program.

Population Served
45,828
Total Violations
127
Health-Based Violations
37
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
9,776
County
Providence
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
0
Monitoring Violations
65
Treatment Tech Violations
37

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 32 1996
Chlorite MR 29 2021
Revised Total Coliform Rule RPT 15 2019
Fluoride MR 11 2019
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 10 2025
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule MR 6 2019
E. COLI MR 5 2016
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 5 2019
Lead and Copper Rule MR 5 2021
Acrylamide MR 3 2018
Epichlorohydrin MR 3 2018
Coliform (TCR) MR 3 2016

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 8 of 116 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
11Cl-PF3OUdS 7/18/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 7/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 7/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 7/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 7/18/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 7/18/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 7/18/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 7/18/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 7/18/2023 3.70 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFNA 7/18/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 7/18/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 7/18/2023 5.80 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
PFDoA 7/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 7/18/2023 5.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFUnA 7/18/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 7/18/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 7/18/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 7/18/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 7/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 7/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 7/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 7/18/2023 7.50 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
8:2 FTS 7/18/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 7/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 7/18/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 7/18/2023 6.70 ppt 5.00 ppt Detected
HFPO-DA 7/18/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 7/18/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 7/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 4/25/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 4/25/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 4/25/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 4/25/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 4/25/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 4/25/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 4/25/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 4/25/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 4/25/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 4/25/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 4/25/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 4/25/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 4/25/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 4/25/2023 3.90 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFUnA 4/25/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 4/25/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 4/25/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 4/25/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 4/25/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 4/25/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 4/25/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected

Verify This Water System

The figures above are aggregated from EPA's public databases. To verify the underlying records, or to file a complaint, request a Consumer Confidence Report, or check current monitoring status, go directly to the federal and state regulators that enforce the Safe Drinking Water Act for Woonsocket Water Division.

Federal Source of Truth

EPA SDWIS, Federal Reports

EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) holds the federal compliance record for every regulated public water system. Open the system-level report by PWS ID:

View PWS ID RI1559518 on SDWIS

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Reports Search

State Regulator

Rhode Island Drinking Water Authority

Rhode Island's primacy agency administers the Safe Drinking Water Act locally. Search EPA SDWIS for the current state contact, or use the state's public health or environment department portal.

Find RI regulator via EPA SDWIS

Violation Timeline

Each row links to the EPA SDWIS public record for verification. Cross-reference the contaminant code on EPA's federal report to see violation dates, return-to-compliance status, and enforcement actions.

Year (latest) Contaminant Category Count EPA Record
2025 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 10 SDWIS / RI1559518 / 7000
2021 Chlorite MR 29 SDWIS / RI1559518 / 1009
2021 Lead and Copper Rule MR 5 SDWIS / RI1559518 / 5000
2019 Revised Total Coliform Rule RPT 15 SDWIS / RI1559518 / 8000
2019 Fluoride MR 11 SDWIS / RI1559518 / 1025
2019 Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule MR 6 SDWIS / RI1559518 / 0300
2019 Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 5 SDWIS / RI1559518 / 0300
2018 Acrylamide MR 3 SDWIS / RI1559518 / 2265
2018 Epichlorohydrin MR 3 SDWIS / RI1559518 / 2257
2016 E. COLI MR 5 SDWIS / RI1559518 / 3014
2016 Coliform (TCR) MR 3 SDWIS / RI1559518 / 3100
1996 Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 32 SDWIS / RI1559518 / 0200

How Woonsocket Water Division Compares

Cross-reference this system's record against state averages and the federal MCL framework for context.

Metric Woonsocket Water Division Rhode Island avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 127 72.9 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 37 19.3 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection 5 compounds 51.7% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 45,828 2,504 Sizing context for compliance burden

Sources: EPA SDWIS and EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (40 CFR Part 141). State averages computed across 463 regulated public water systems in Rhode Island.

Federal MCL reference, Safe Drinking Water Act thresholds ▼
Contaminant Federal MCL / Action Level Note
Lead 0 mg/L (Action Level: 0.015 mg/L) Lead and Copper Rule treatment technique
Arsenic 0.010 mg/L (10 ppb) Health-based MCL since 2006
Total Coliform Treatment technique (RTCR) Indicator organism, monitoring trigger
PFOA / PFOS (PFAS) 4.0 ppt each (final 2024 rule) Compliance deadline 2029 (EPA proposed extending to 2031, not yet final as of May 2026)
Nitrate (as N) 10 mg/L Acute health risk for infants

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Woonsocket Water Division water safe to drink? ▼
Woonsocket Water Division (PWS ID: RI1559518) has 127 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 5 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 45,828 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Woonsocket Water Division serve? ▼
Woonsocket Water Division serves 45,828 people in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 9,776 service connections.
What type of violations does Woonsocket Water Division have? ▼
Woonsocket Water Division has 127 total violations: 37 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 65 monitoring/reporting violations, and 37 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Woonsocket Water Division water? ▼
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 5 PFAS compounds in Woonsocket Water Division's water supply: PFHpA, PFOA, PFHxA, PFPeA, PFBA. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Woonsocket Water Division use? ▼
Woonsocket Water Division uses Surface Water as its primary water source. It is classified as a Community Water System (CWS), serving residential populations year-round.
Where does this data come from? ▼
All data comes from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and the UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program. SDWIS tracks compliance for all public water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Data Sources: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), Q4 2025. PFAS data from EPA UCMR5 monitoring program (2023-2025). This data is provided for informational purposes only.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Data sourced from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 PFAS monitoring data. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainWater Editorial

Every figure on PlainWater is rendered directly from EPA SDWIS drinking-water data, no number is typed in by an editor. This system's figures are rendered directly from EPA SDWIS data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.