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PORTSMOUTH WATER & FIRE DISTRICT

PWS ID: RI1592022 · PORTSMOUTH, Rhode Island 02871

PORTSMOUTH WATER & FIRE DISTRICT serves 17,090 people in PORTSMOUTH, Rhode Island using Surface Water water sources. It has 76 recorded EPA violations, including 58 health-based violations. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing.

Water Quality Snapshot: PORTSMOUTH WATER & FIRE DISTRICT

PORTSMOUTH WATER & FIRE DISTRICT is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 17,090 residents in PORTSMOUTH, Rhode Island (Newport County) through 6,893 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 76 total violations for this system , of which 58 (76%) are health-based — meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 13 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2023.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is TTHM, recorded in 38 violations (MCL, health-based). This system was sampled under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program and no PFAS compounds were detected above the minimum reporting level.

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. PORTSMOUTH WATER & FIRE DISTRICT's 76 violations sit above the Rhode Island average. Statewide, 15 of 29 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (51.7%). All figures above are sourced directly from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 public data releases and are updated as EPA publishes new reporting cycles.

Population Served
17,090
Total Violations
76
Health-Based Violations
58
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
6,893
County
Newport
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
58
Monitoring Violations
13
Treatment Tech Violations
0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
TTHM MCL 38 2023
Coliform (TCR) MCL 20 1994
Revised Total Coliform Rule RPT 5 2016
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 5 2013
TTHM MR 5 2013
Surface Water Treatment Rule MR 3 2016

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 0 of 120 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFDoA 8/2/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
NFDHA 8/2/2023 <0.02 µg/L 0.02 µg/L Not Detected
PFEESA 8/2/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFMBA 8/2/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFPeA 8/2/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
8:2 FTS 8/2/2023 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
4:2 FTS 8/2/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
6:2 FTS 8/2/2023 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFBA 8/2/2023 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
HFPO-DA 8/2/2023 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
ADONA 8/2/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 8/2/2023 <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 8/2/2023 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFPeS 8/2/2023 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFHxA 8/2/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 8/2/2023 <0.006 µg/L 0.006 µg/L Not Detected
PFMPA 8/2/2023 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFDA 8/2/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFOA 8/2/2023 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFOS 8/2/2023 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFNA 8/2/2023 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFHxS 8/2/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFHpA 8/2/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFBS 8/2/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
lithium 8/2/2023 <9 µg/L 9 µg/L Not Detected
PFHpS 8/2/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 8/2/2023 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFTrDA 8/2/2023 <0.007 µg/L 0.007 µg/L Not Detected
PFTA 8/2/2023 <0.008 µg/L 0.008 µg/L Not Detected
PFUnA 8/2/2023 <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Not Detected
PFPeS 5/3/2023 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
ADONA 5/3/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
HFPO-DA 5/3/2023 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFBA 5/3/2023 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
6:2 FTS 5/3/2023 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
4:2 FTS 5/3/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
8:2 FTS 5/3/2023 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFMPA 5/3/2023 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFPeA 5/3/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFMBA 5/3/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 5/3/2023 <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Not Detected
NFDHA 5/3/2023 <0.02 µg/L 0.02 µg/L Not Detected
PFNA 5/3/2023 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFHpS 5/3/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFEESA 5/3/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 5/3/2023 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFUnA 5/3/2023 <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Not Detected
PFHxA 5/3/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFDoA 5/3/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFDA 5/3/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L 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 PORTSMOUTH WATER & FIRE DISTRICT.

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 RI1592022 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
2023 TTHM MCL 38 SDWIS / RI1592022 / 2950
2016 Revised Total Coliform Rule RPT 5 SDWIS / RI1592022 / 8000
2016 Surface Water Treatment Rule MR 3 SDWIS / RI1592022 / 0200
2013 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 5 SDWIS / RI1592022 / 2456
2013 TTHM MR 5 SDWIS / RI1592022 / 2950
1994 Coliform (TCR) MCL 20 SDWIS / RI1592022 / 3100

How PORTSMOUTH WATER & FIRE DISTRICT Compares

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

Metric PORTSMOUTH WATER & FIRE DISTRICT Rhode Island avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 76 72.9 SDWA compliance — any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 58 19.3 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection None 51.7% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 17,090 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
Nitrate (as N) 10 mg/L Acute health risk for infants

Frequently Asked Questions

Is PORTSMOUTH WATER & FIRE DISTRICT water safe to drink? ▼
PORTSMOUTH WATER & FIRE DISTRICT (PWS ID: RI1592022) has 76 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing. This system serves 17,090 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does PORTSMOUTH WATER & FIRE DISTRICT serve? ▼
PORTSMOUTH WATER & FIRE DISTRICT serves 17,090 people in PORTSMOUTH, Rhode Island. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 6,893 service connections.
What type of violations does PORTSMOUTH WATER & FIRE DISTRICT have? ▼
PORTSMOUTH WATER & FIRE DISTRICT has 76 total violations: 58 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 13 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in PORTSMOUTH WATER & FIRE DISTRICT water? ▼
No. PORTSMOUTH WATER & FIRE DISTRICT was tested for PFAS under the EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program and no PFAS contamination was detected.
What water source does PORTSMOUTH WATER & FIRE DISTRICT use? ▼
PORTSMOUTH WATER & FIRE DISTRICT 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.

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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.

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Data sourced from $official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainWater Editorial