PlainWater
States → Rhode Island

PROVIDENCE-CITY OF

PWS ID: RI1592024 · PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island 02907

PROVIDENCE-CITY OF serves 333,142 people in PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island using Surface Water water sources. It has 51 recorded EPA violations, including 15 health-based violations. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing.

Water Quality Snapshot: PROVIDENCE-CITY OF

PROVIDENCE-CITY OF is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 333,142 residents in PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island (Providence County) through 79,554 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 51 total violations for this system , of which 15 (29%) are health-based — meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 18 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2024.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Lead and Copper Rule, recorded in 15 violations (MR). 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. PROVIDENCE-CITY OF's 51 violations sit below 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
333,142
Total Violations
51
Health-Based Violations
15
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
79,554
County
Providence
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
5
Monitoring Violations
18
Treatment Tech Violations
10

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Lead and Copper Rule MR 15 2021
Lead and Copper Rule TT 10 2007
TTHM MCL 5 2018
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 3 2020
CARBON, TOTAL MR 3 2024
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule Other 3 2024

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

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

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
HFPO-DA 7/11/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 7/11/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFPeA 7/11/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFMBA 7/11/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFEESA 7/11/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
NFDHA 7/11/2024 <0.02 µg/L 0.02 µg/L Not Detected
PFPeS 7/11/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFBA 7/11/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 7/11/2024 <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Not Detected
6:2 FTS 7/11/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
ADONA 7/11/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFBS 7/11/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFOA 7/11/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFOS 7/11/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFNA 7/11/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFHxS 7/11/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFHpS 7/11/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFHxA 7/11/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
4:2 FTS 7/11/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
8:2 FTS 7/11/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFTrDA 7/11/2024 <0.007 µg/L 0.007 µg/L Not Detected
PFMPA 7/11/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFHpA 7/11/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFTA 7/11/2024 <0.008 µg/L 0.008 µg/L Not Detected
lithium 7/11/2024 <9 µg/L 9 µg/L Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 7/11/2024 <0.006 µg/L 0.006 µg/L Not Detected
PFUnA 7/11/2024 <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 7/11/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFDA 7/11/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFDoA 7/11/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFHpS 4/18/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 4/18/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 4/18/2024 <0.006 µg/L 0.006 µg/L Not Detected
PFTA 4/18/2024 <0.008 µg/L 0.008 µg/L Not Detected
PFTrDA 4/18/2024 <0.007 µg/L 0.007 µg/L Not Detected
PFBS 4/18/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFHpA 4/18/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
lithium 4/18/2024 <9 µg/L 9 µg/L Not Detected
PFOS 4/18/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFPeS 4/18/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFPeA 4/18/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFNA 4/18/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFOA 4/18/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFDA 4/18/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFDoA 4/18/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFHxA 4/18/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFUnA 4/18/2024 <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 4/18/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 4/18/2024 <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Not Detected
ADONA 4/18/2024 <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 PROVIDENCE-CITY OF.

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 RI1592024 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
2024 CARBON, TOTAL MR 3 SDWIS / RI1592024 / 2920
2024 Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule Other 3 SDWIS / RI1592024 / 0300
2021 Lead and Copper Rule MR 15 SDWIS / RI1592024 / 5000
2020 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 3 SDWIS / RI1592024 / 7000
2018 TTHM MCL 5 SDWIS / RI1592024 / 2950
2007 Lead and Copper Rule TT 10 SDWIS / RI1592024 / 5000

How PROVIDENCE-CITY OF Compares

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

Metric PROVIDENCE-CITY OF Rhode Island avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 51 72.9 SDWA compliance — any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 15 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 333,142 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 PROVIDENCE-CITY OF water safe to drink? ▼
PROVIDENCE-CITY OF (PWS ID: RI1592024) has 51 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing. This system serves 333,142 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does PROVIDENCE-CITY OF serve? ▼
PROVIDENCE-CITY OF serves 333,142 people in PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 79,554 service connections.
What type of violations does PROVIDENCE-CITY OF have? ▼
PROVIDENCE-CITY OF has 51 total violations: 15 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 18 monitoring/reporting violations, and 10 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in PROVIDENCE-CITY OF water? ▼
No. PROVIDENCE-CITY OF was tested for PFAS under the EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program and no PFAS contamination was detected.
What water source does PROVIDENCE-CITY OF use? ▼
PROVIDENCE-CITY OF 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.

Explore PlainWater

Water in Rhode Island

All systems in state
All States

Water quality by state
Contaminants

PFAS & other pollutants
Guides

Understanding water quality

Related Data for Rhode Island

Environmental Data → Natural Hazards → Air Quality → Healthcare Access → Climate Data →
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.

Related

Browse all → | Rankings →
Data sourced from $official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainWater Editorial