Providence, RI Water Quality Report

Is Providence tap water safe? See PFAS and lead contamination levels for Providence, Rhode Island. Compare to EPA limits and get filter recommendations.

Quick Answers

Is Providence tap water safe to drink? Providence public water systems are not reported as having detected PFAS in the most recent EPA UCMR5 testing cycle. Smaller systems may not be required to test, so private wells and older infrastructure still warrant caution.

What contaminants are in Providence water? EPA UCMR5 tests 29 PFAS compounds plus 42+ regulated contaminants (lead, arsenic, nitrate, disinfection byproducts). The detailed table below shows every detection with comparison to EPA limits.

What filter should I use in Providence? Reverse osmosis removes 90%+ of PFAS, lead, and arsenic. NSF-53 certified pitcher and faucet filters (ZeroWater, Clearly Filtered, LifeStraw) work for smaller households. Skip standard Brita filters for PFAS removal.

Providence Water Quality Summary

Providence water systems are not currently reported as having detected PFAS in recent EPA UCMR5 testing. This does not guarantee zero contamination – monitoring is ongoing and smaller systems may not be required to test. Check your specific ZIP code for the most detailed data.

Contamination Level: NONE – No PFAS detected in recent testing.

Lead in Providence Water

EPA Lead and Copper Rule testing has recorded 36 lead samples for Providence water systems, with a 90th-percentile high of 0.022 mg/L (above the EPA 0.015 mg/L action level). There is no safe level of lead for children; if your home was built before 1986, a certified NSF/ANSI 53 lead-removal filter is recommended.

EPA Violations in Providence

Providence public water systems have 7 health-based EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record, including Surface Water Treatment Rule, Total Organic Carbon, Haloacetic Acids (HAA5). Health-based violations mean a contaminant exceeded its federal limit or required treatment was not applied.

About the Data

These figures come from the EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5 (UCMR5) testing program, 2023-2025. UCMR5 is the most comprehensive national drinking water survey in US history, covering 66,000+ public water systems. Population of Providence: approximately 190,934.

ZIP Codes Served

02901, 02902, 02903, 02904, 02905

Compare Providence to Other Cities

Side-by-side PFAS contamination comparisons with same-state, regional, and national peers.

What Providence Residents Should Do

  1. Enter your exact ZIP code at knowyourexposure.com for address-level data
  2. Install an NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis filter (removes 94-99% of PFAS)
  3. If you're in a high-exposure group (pregnant, young children), consider a PFAS home test kit
  4. Review your utility's Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) annually