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Community Water System · PWS RI1647515

Bristol County Water Authority

Warren, Rhode Island 02885 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 49,000 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

49,000
People served
154
EPA violations
45
Health-based
No PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 154 drinking-water violations at Bristol County Water Authority, 29% of them health-based - above the Rhode Island per-system average.

154
Total EPA violations on record
29%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
49,000
People served by this system
0
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Bristol County Water Authority

Bristol County Water Authority is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 49,000 residents in Warren, Rhode Island (Bristol County) through 15,710 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 154 total violations for this system , of which 45 (29%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 76 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 Fluoride, recorded in 18 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. Statewide, 15 of 29 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (51.7%).

Bristol County Water Authority's 154 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.

Population Served
49,000
Total Violations
154
Health-Based Violations
45
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
15,710
County
Bristol
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
26
Monitoring Violations
76
Treatment Tech Violations
9

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Fluoride MR 18 1991
Coliform (TCR) MCL 14 2009
TTHM MCL 12 1999
Chlorine dioxide MRDL 10 2010
Lead and Copper Rule MR 10 2014
Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 9 1995
Coliform (TCR) MR 6 2007
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 6 2004
Chlorite MR 5 2006
Cryptosporidium MR 5 2017
E. COLI MR 5 2017
Turbidity MR 5 2017
TTHM MR 3 2024
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 3 2024
1,1-Dichloroethylene MR 2 1991
p-Dichlorobenzene MR 2 1991
Benzene MR 2 1991
Vinyl chloride MR 2 1991
1,1,1-Trichloroethane MR 2 1991
Trichloroethylene MR 2 1991
Carbon tetrachloride MR 2 1991
1,2-Dichloroethane MR 2 1991

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 0 of 116 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFPeA 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 8/9/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 8/9/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 8/9/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 8/9/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 8/9/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 8/9/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 8/9/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 8/9/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 8/9/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 8/9/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 8/9/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 8/9/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 8/9/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 8/9/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 8/9/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 8/9/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 8/9/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 8/9/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 5/10/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 5/10/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 5/10/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 5/10/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 5/10/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 5/10/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 5/10/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 5/10/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 5/10/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 5/10/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 5/10/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 5/10/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 5/10/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 5/10/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 5/10/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 5/10/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 5/10/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 5/10/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 5/10/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 5/10/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 5/10/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 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 Bristol County Water Authority.

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 RI1647515 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 TTHM MR 3 SDWIS / RI1647515 / 2950
2024 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 3 SDWIS / RI1647515 / 2456
2017 Cryptosporidium MR 5 SDWIS / RI1647515 / 3015
2017 E. COLI MR 5 SDWIS / RI1647515 / 3014
2017 Turbidity MR 5 SDWIS / RI1647515 / 0100
2014 Lead and Copper Rule MR 10 SDWIS / RI1647515 / 5000
2010 Chlorine dioxide MRDL 10 SDWIS / RI1647515 / 1008
2009 Coliform (TCR) MCL 14 SDWIS / RI1647515 / 3100
2007 Coliform (TCR) MR 6 SDWIS / RI1647515 / 3100
2006 Chlorite MR 5 SDWIS / RI1647515 / 1009
2004 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 6 SDWIS / RI1647515 / 7000
1999 TTHM MCL 12 SDWIS / RI1647515 / 2950
1995 Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 9 SDWIS / RI1647515 / 0200
1991 Fluoride MR 18 SDWIS / RI1647515 / 1025
1991 1,1-Dichloroethylene MR 2 SDWIS / RI1647515 / 2977

How Bristol County Water Authority Compares

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

Metric Bristol County Water Authority Rhode Island avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 154 72.9 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 45 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 49,000 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 Bristol County Water Authority water safe to drink? ▼
Bristol County Water Authority (PWS ID: RI1647515) has 154 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing. This system serves 49,000 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Bristol County Water Authority serve? ▼
Bristol County Water Authority serves 49,000 people in Warren, Rhode Island. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 15,710 service connections.
What type of violations does Bristol County Water Authority have? ▼
Bristol County Water Authority has 154 total violations: 45 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 76 monitoring/reporting violations, and 9 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Bristol County Water Authority water? ▼
No. Bristol County Water Authority was tested for PFAS under the EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program and no PFAS contamination was detected.
What water source does Bristol County Water Authority use? ▼
Bristol County Water Authority 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.