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Community Water System · PWS RI1615623

South Kingstown-South Shore

Wakefield, Rhode Island 02879 - drinking water served from groundwater sources to 6,170 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

6,170
People served
108
EPA violations
64
Health-based
4 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 108 drinking-water violations at South Kingstown-South Shore, 59% of them health-based - above the Rhode Island per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 4 PFAS compounds.

108
Total EPA violations on record
59%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
6,170
People served by this system
4
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: South Kingstown-South Shore

South Kingstown-South Shore is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 6,170 residents in Wakefield, Rhode Island (Washington County) through 2,583 service connections. Its water is drawn from groundwater sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 108 total violations for this system , of which 64 (59%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 32 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 Coliform (TCR), recorded in 64 violations (MCL, health-based). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 4 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 12.3 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%).

South Kingstown-South Shore's 108 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

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

Population Served
6,170
Total Violations
108
Health-Based Violations
64
Water Source
Groundwater

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
2,583
County
Washington
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
64
Monitoring Violations
32
Treatment Tech Violations
0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Coliform (TCR) MCL 64 2015
Atrazine MR 8 1995
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 8 2024
TTHM MR 8 2024
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 5 2018
Revised Total Coliform Rule RPT 5 2019
Revised Total Coliform Rule MON 5 2020
Lead and Copper Rule MR 3 2017

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

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

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFUnA 8/21/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 8/21/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 8/21/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 8/21/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 8/21/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 8/21/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 8/21/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 8/21/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 8/21/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 8/21/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 8/21/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 8/21/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 8/21/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 8/21/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 8/21/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 8/21/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 8/21/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 8/21/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 8/21/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 8/21/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 8/21/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 8/21/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 8/21/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 8/21/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 8/21/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 8/21/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 8/21/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 8/21/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 8/21/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 8/21/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 8/21/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 8/21/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 8/21/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 8/21/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 8/21/2023 5.50 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFHxS 8/21/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 8/21/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 8/21/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 8/21/2023 6.10 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
PFDA 8/21/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 8/21/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 8/21/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 8/21/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 8/21/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 8/21/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 8/21/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 8/21/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 8/21/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 8/21/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 8/21/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 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 South Kingstown-South Shore.

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 RI1615623 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 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 8 SDWIS / RI1615623 / 2456
2024 TTHM MR 8 SDWIS / RI1615623 / 2950
2020 Revised Total Coliform Rule MON 5 SDWIS / RI1615623 / 8000
2019 Revised Total Coliform Rule RPT 5 SDWIS / RI1615623 / 8000
2018 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 5 SDWIS / RI1615623 / 7000
2017 Lead and Copper Rule MR 3 SDWIS / RI1615623 / 5000
2015 Coliform (TCR) MCL 64 SDWIS / RI1615623 / 3100
1995 Atrazine MR 8 SDWIS / RI1615623 / 2050

How South Kingstown-South Shore Compares

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

Metric South Kingstown-South Shore Rhode Island avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 108 72.9 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 64 19.3 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection 4 compounds 51.7% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 6,170 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 South Kingstown-South Shore water safe to drink? ▼
South Kingstown-South Shore (PWS ID: RI1615623) has 108 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 4 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 6,170 people using Groundwater sources.
How many people does South Kingstown-South Shore serve? ▼
South Kingstown-South Shore serves 6,170 people in Wakefield, Rhode Island. It is a Local-owned system using Groundwater water sources with 2,583 service connections.
What type of violations does South Kingstown-South Shore have? ▼
South Kingstown-South Shore has 108 total violations: 64 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 32 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in South Kingstown-South Shore water? ▼
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 4 PFAS compounds in South Kingstown-South Shore's water supply: PFHpA, PFOA, PFPeA, PFHxA. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does South Kingstown-South Shore use? ▼
South Kingstown-South Shore uses Groundwater 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.