Providence Water Quality

Rhode Island

Health Violations

The tap water in Providence, Rhode Island is served by 7 EPA-regulated water systems covering approximately 334,716 people. 9 health-based violations are on record, most recently for 5200 in 2024. Data source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System.

7
Water Systems
334,716
Population Served
9
Total Violations
9
Health-Based Violations

Drinking water in Providence, Rhode Island is delivered through 7 EPA-regulated community water systems serving an estimated 334,716 people. Each system is tracked in the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) under the Safe Drinking Water Act, which requires testing for regulated contaminants, consumer notification of violations, and publication of an annual Consumer Confidence Report.

The SDWIS record for Providence shows 9 total violations across all 7 systems, of which 9 are health-based, meaning either a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) was exceeded or a required treatment technique was not followed. Contaminants cited in health-based violations include 5200, 2950, 5000, 0200. 14 TRI-reporting industrial facilityies are also located within the city limits.

A past EPA violation does not mean the water is currently unsafe, utilities are required to notify customers and remediate under state primacy oversight. For current water-quality status and treatment practices, review your local utility's most recent Consumer Confidence Report or contact the Rhode Island drinking water program. All records above reflect federal EPA SDWIS data and are not independently verified against state databases.

Community Water Systems

System Name Pop. Served Violations Status
PROVIDENCE-CITY OF 333,142 4 Health
ELEANOR SLATER HOSPITAL ZAMBARANO UNIT 540 1 Health
PROVIDENCE-CITY OF - WHIPPLE 471 3 Health
MEADOWLARK, INC. 183 0 Clean
RICHMOND RIDGE DEVELOPMENT 172 0 Clean
SAUGATUCKET SPRINGS 110 0 Clean
FALL BROOK MOBILE HOME PARK 98 1 Health

Does this city have health-based water violations?

Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels that exceeded EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs). This does not necessarily mean water is currently unsafe.

Contaminant Begin Date
5200 2024-10-17
2950 2022-01-01
2950 2022-01-01
2950 2021-10-01
2950 2018-07-01
2950 2018-07-01
5000 2007-10-01
5000 2006-10-18
0200 1992-01-01

TRI Facilities in Providence

Facility Total Releases
Manchester Street Llc. 18.0K lbs
Monarch Metal Finishing Co. Inc. 16.2K lbs
Univar Solutions USA - Providence Branch 15.6K lbs
Shell Providence Terminal 15.3K lbs
Mahr Inc. 7.3K lbs
Ira Green Inc 4.9K lbs
Sprague Providence 493 lbs
Electrolizing Inc 64 lbs
Wt Terminal Providence LLC 1 lbs
Wt Terminal South 0 lbs

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Providence, Rhode Island water safe to drink?
Providence is served by 7 EPA-regulated water systems covering approximately 334,716 people. 9 health-based violations have been recorded. A past violation does not necessarily mean water is currently unsafe, systems are required to notify customers and resolve issues. Contact your local water utility for current status.
How many water violations does Providence have?
Providence water systems have a total of 9 violations on record in the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System, of which 9 are health-based (MCL exceedances). The remaining violations are monitoring or reporting violations.
What contaminants were found in Providence water?
Health-based violations for Providence water systems include the following contaminants: 5200, 2950, 5000, 0200. Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS).
How many water systems serve Providence?
7 EPA-regulated community water systems serve Providence, Rhode Island, collectively covering approximately 334,716 people. Data is from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS).
Where does Providence get its drinking water?
Providence's water supply comes from 7 EPA-regulated community water systems. Source type data is not available for all systems. For detailed supply information, contact your local water utility. Source: EPA SDWIS.
Are there pollution sources near Providence?
Yes, 14 EPA Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) facilities are registered in Providence, Rhode Island, reporting a combined 77.8K lbs of toxic chemical releases. TRI data reflects self-reported emissions; it does not measure exposure or health effects. Source: EPA TRI.

About This Data

Water system data comes from the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). Violations are reported by state agencies to EPA and include both health-based (MCL exceedances) and monitoring/reporting violations.

A reported violation does not necessarily mean water is currently unsafe to drink. Many violations are resolved quickly, and public water systems are required to notify customers of significant issues. For current water quality, contact your local water utility.

TRI facility data comes from the EPA Toxic Release Inventory. Facilities shown are those that self-report to the TRI program. PlainEnviro presents this data without advocacy framing.

Related

Data sourced from U.S. EPA environmental datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainEnviro Editorial