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Community Water System · PWS RI1647530

Cumberland, Town Of

Cumberland, Rhode Island 02864 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 21,235 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

21,235
People served
157
EPA violations
40
Health-based
6 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 157 drinking-water violations at Cumberland, Town Of, 25% of them health-based - above the Rhode Island per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 6 PFAS compounds.

157
Total EPA violations on record
25%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
21,235
People served by this system
6
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Cumberland, Town Of

Cumberland, Town Of is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 21,235 residents in Cumberland, Rhode Island (Providence County) through 8,565 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 157 total violations for this system , of which 40 (25%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 95 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2022.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is CARBON, TOTAL, recorded in 40 violations (TT, health-based). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 6 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 8.3 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%).

Cumberland, Town Of's 157 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

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

Population Served
21,235
Total Violations
157
Health-Based Violations
40
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
8,565
County
Providence
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
0
Monitoring Violations
95
Treatment Tech Violations
40

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
CARBON, TOTAL TT 40 2005
E. COLI MR 39 2018
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 21 2017
Turbidity MR 18 2018
Cryptosporidium MR 18 2018
CARBON, TOTAL MR 11 2004
Lead and Copper Rule MR 9 2022

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 21 of 348 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
NMeFOSAA 8/1/2024 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 8/1/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 8/1/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 8/1/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 8/1/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 8/1/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 8/1/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 8/1/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 8/1/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 8/1/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 8/1/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 8/1/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 8/1/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 8/1/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 8/1/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 8/1/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 8/1/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 8/1/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 8/1/2024 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 8/1/2024 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 8/1/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 8/1/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 8/1/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 8/1/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 8/1/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 8/1/2024 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 8/1/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 8/1/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 8/1/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 5/16/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 5/16/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 5/16/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 5/16/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 5/16/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 5/16/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 5/16/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 5/16/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 5/16/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 5/16/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 5/16/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 5/16/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 5/16/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 5/16/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 5/16/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 5/16/2024 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 5/16/2024 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 5/16/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 5/16/2024 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 5/16/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 5/16/2024 <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 Cumberland, Town 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 RI1647530 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
2022 Lead and Copper Rule MR 9 SDWIS / RI1647530 / 5000
2018 E. COLI MR 39 SDWIS / RI1647530 / 3014
2018 Turbidity MR 18 SDWIS / RI1647530 / 0100
2018 Cryptosporidium MR 18 SDWIS / RI1647530 / 3015
2017 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 21 SDWIS / RI1647530 / 7000
2005 CARBON, TOTAL TT 40 SDWIS / RI1647530 / 2920
2004 CARBON, TOTAL MR 11 SDWIS / RI1647530 / 2920

How Cumberland, Town Of Compares

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

Metric Cumberland, Town Of Rhode Island avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 157 72.9 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 40 19.3 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection 6 compounds 51.7% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 21,235 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 Cumberland, Town Of water safe to drink?
Cumberland, Town Of (PWS ID: RI1647530) has 157 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 6 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 21,235 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Cumberland, Town Of serve?
Cumberland, Town Of serves 21,235 people in Cumberland, Rhode Island. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 8,565 service connections.
What type of violations does Cumberland, Town Of have?
Cumberland, Town Of has 157 total violations: 40 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 95 monitoring/reporting violations, and 40 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Cumberland, Town Of water?
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 6 PFAS compounds in Cumberland, Town Of's water supply: PFBS, PFOS, PFPeA, PFOA, PFHpA, and others. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Cumberland, Town Of use?
Cumberland, Town 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.
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.
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.