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Community Water System · PWS RI1858421

Kingston Water District

West Kingston, Rhode Island 02892 - drinking water served from groundwater sources to 3,968 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

3,968
People served
317
EPA violations
5
Health-based
5 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 317 drinking-water violations at Kingston Water District, 2% of them health-based - above the Rhode Island per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 5 PFAS compounds.

317
Total EPA violations on record
2%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
3,968
People served by this system
5
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Kingston Water District

Kingston Water District is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 3,968 residents in West Kingston, Rhode Island (Washington County) through 1,092 service connections. Its water is drawn from groundwater sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 317 total violations for this system , of which 5 (2%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 305 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 Atrazine, recorded in 13 violations (MR). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 5 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 36.8 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%).

Kingston Water District's 317 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

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

Population Served
3,968
Total Violations
317
Health-Based Violations
5
Water Source
Groundwater

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
1,092
County
Washington
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
5
Monitoring Violations
305
Treatment Tech Violations
0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Atrazine MR 13 2023
Arsenic MR 8 2023
Cadmium MR 8 2023
Mercury MR 8 2023
Beryllium, Total MR 8 2023
Selenium MR 8 2023
Chromium MR 8 2023
CYANIDE MR 8 2023
Nickel MR 8 2023
Antimony, Total MR 8 2023
Thallium, Total MR 8 2023
Barium MR 8 2023
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 7 2017
Nitrate MR 6 2018
Coliform (TCR) MCL 5 2013
Endrin MR 5 2023
Methoxychlor MR 5 2023
Toxaphene MR 5 2023
Dalapon MR 5 2023
Simazine MR 5 2023
Picloram MR 5 2023
Dinoseb MR 5 2023
Aldicarb sulfone MR 5 2023
Aldicarb MR 5 2023
Heptachlor MR 5 2023
2,4,5-TP MR 5 2023
HEXACHLOROBENZENE MR 5 2023
Pentachlorophenol MR 5 2023
1,2-DIBROMO-3-CHLOROPROPANE MR 5 2023
ETHYLENE DIBROMIDE MR 5 2023

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 21 of 174 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFMPA 6/4/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 6/4/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 6/4/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 6/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 6/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 6/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 6/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 6/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 6/4/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 6/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 6/4/2024 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 6/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 6/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 6/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 6/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 6/4/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 6/4/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 6/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 6/4/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 6/4/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 6/4/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 6/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 6/4/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 6/4/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 6/4/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 6/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 6/4/2024 7.70 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFHpS 6/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 6/4/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 6/4/2024 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 6/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 6/4/2024 5.50 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
8:2 FTS 6/4/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 6/4/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 6/4/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 6/4/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 6/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 6/4/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 6/4/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 6/4/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 6/4/2024 4.20 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 6/4/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 6/4/2024 29.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFHxS 6/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 6/4/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 6/4/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 6/4/2024 4.30 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
PFDA 6/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 6/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 6/4/2024 <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 Kingston Water 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 RI1858421 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 Atrazine MR 13 SDWIS / RI1858421 / 2050
2023 Arsenic MR 8 SDWIS / RI1858421 / 1005
2023 Cadmium MR 8 SDWIS / RI1858421 / 1015
2023 Mercury MR 8 SDWIS / RI1858421 / 1035
2023 Beryllium, Total MR 8 SDWIS / RI1858421 / 1075
2023 Selenium MR 8 SDWIS / RI1858421 / 1045
2023 Chromium MR 8 SDWIS / RI1858421 / 1020
2023 CYANIDE MR 8 SDWIS / RI1858421 / 1024
2023 Nickel MR 8 SDWIS / RI1858421 / 1036
2023 Antimony, Total MR 8 SDWIS / RI1858421 / 1074
2023 Thallium, Total MR 8 SDWIS / RI1858421 / 1085
2023 Barium MR 8 SDWIS / RI1858421 / 1010
2023 Endrin MR 5 SDWIS / RI1858421 / 2005
2023 Methoxychlor MR 5 SDWIS / RI1858421 / 2015
2023 Toxaphene MR 5 SDWIS / RI1858421 / 2020

How Kingston Water District Compares

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

Metric Kingston Water District Rhode Island avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 317 72.9 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 5 19.3 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection 5 compounds 51.7% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 3,968 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 Kingston Water District water safe to drink?
Kingston Water District (PWS ID: RI1858421) has 317 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 5 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 3,968 people using Groundwater sources.
How many people does Kingston Water District serve?
Kingston Water District serves 3,968 people in West Kingston, Rhode Island. It is a Local-owned system using Groundwater water sources with 1,092 service connections.
What type of violations does Kingston Water District have?
Kingston Water District has 317 total violations: 5 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 305 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Kingston Water District water?
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 5 PFAS compounds in Kingston Water District's water supply: PFHxA, PFPeA, PFHpA, PFBS, PFOA. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Kingston Water District use?
Kingston Water District 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.
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.