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PFAS in Rhode Island drinking water

25 community water systems tested

40%
of tested systems detected PFOA or PFOS
(10/25)

PFAS — “forever chemicals” — are synthetic compounds that accumulate in the body and are linked to cancer, liver damage and immune effects. In 2024 the EPA set enforceable limits of 4 parts per trillion each for PFOA and PFOS. These are the only nationwide PFAS measurements, from the EPA’s UCMR-5 program.

Water systems

PFAS value per system, 2023–2025. EPA limit — 4 ppt (0.004 µg/L) for PFOA and PFOS, set in 2024. Systems that detected PFOA or PFOS are highlighted and listed first. “Not detected” means the contaminant was measured but not found.
SystemCityPopulationPFAS (ug/L)
UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND SOUTH KINGSTOWN 19,354 0.0160 ug/L
WESTERLY WATER DEPARTMENT WESTERLY 35,298 0.0090 ug/L
NORTH KINGSTOWN TOWN OF NORTH KINGSTOWN 27,732 0.0081 ug/L
CUMBERLAND, TOWN OF CUMBERLAND 21,235 0.0077 ug/L
KENT COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY COVENTRY 94,107 0.0075 ug/L
KINGSTON WATER DISTRICT SOUTH KINGSTOWN 3,968 0.0062 ug/L
SOUTH KINGSTOWN-SOUTH SHORE SOUTH KINGSTOWN 6,170 0.0061 ug/L
WOONSOCKET WATER DIVISION WOONSOCKET 45,828 0.0058 ug/L
NARRAGANSETT WATER DEPT-NORTH END NARRAGANSETT 4,432 0.0043 ug/L
NORTH TIVERTON FIRE DISTRICT TIVERTON 8,969 0.0040 ug/L
PROVIDENCE-CITY OF CRANSTON 333,142 Not detected
PAWTUCKET WATER SUPPLY BOARD VEOLIA-NA CENTRAL FALLS 98,130 Not detected
WARWICK-CITY OF WARWICK 73,289 Not detected
BRISTOL COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY BARRINGTON 49,000 Not detected
EAST PROVIDENCE-CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE 47,618 Not detected
NEWPORT-CITY OF MIDDLETOWN 42,155 Not detected
VEOLIA WATER WAKEFIELD RHODE ISLAND INC SOUTH KINGSTOWN 22,347 Not detected
LINCOLN WATER COMMISSION LINCOLN 21,664 Not detected
PORTSMOUTH WATER & FIRE DISTRICT PORTSMOUTH 17,090 Not detected
CNE - NEW LONDON TURNPIKE ENTRY POINT COVENTRY 9,999 Not detected
GREENVILLE WATER DISTRICT SMITHFIELD 9,500 Not detected
SMITHFIELD WATER SUPPLY BOARD SMITHFIELD 9,460 Not detected
NARRAGANSETT WATER SYSTEM-POINT JUDITH NARRAGANSETT 8,210 Not detected
NAVAL STATION, NEWPORT NEWPORT 7,870 Not detected
JAMESTOWN WATER DEPARTMENT JAMESTOWN 3,348 Not detected