Drinking water quality · 2025
· Verified
What's in Providence, RI tap water
11 contaminants were measured in the Providence, RI water system's 2025 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit.
- Reporting year
- 2025
- Contaminants measured
- 11
- Over federal limit
- 0
- Approaching the limit
- 1
- Service area
- RI
Where your water comes from · EPA SDWIS
Providence, RI's drinking water comes from surface water, drawn from 1 source.
Source
- SCITUATE RES
Treatment
- TREATMENT PLANT
Distribution
Historical readings · EPA Six-Year Review (2012–2019)
1 contaminant historically over EPA limits in Providence, RI
Every U.S. public water system reports compliance-monitoring data to EPA. The Six-Year Review releases the 2012–2019 window as a single dataset — here's what your system reported, year by year. Values shown are the highest detection per analyte per year, compared to the federal MCL.
| Contaminant | Worst detection | EPA limit | Years (2012–2019) |
|---|---|---|---|
TTHM worst: 2018 | 0.089 mg/L 1.1× | 0.08 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
HAA5 worst: 2014 | 0.034 mg/L within | 0.06 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
DEHP worst: 2017 | 0.001 mg/L within | 0.006 mg/L | '17'18 |
FLUORIDE worst: 2018 | 0.25 mg/L within | 4 mg/L | '18 |
NITRITE worst: 2014 | 0.02 mg/L within | 1 mg/L | '14 |
NITRATE worst: 2014 | 0.06 mg/L within | 10 mg/L | '12'14'19 |
BARIUM worst: 2015 | 0.01 mg/L within below national p90 | 2 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| LeadA toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. | 2 ug/L90th percentileAt the tap | 15 ug/LAction level | Within the limit |
| CopperA metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. | 0.012 mg/L90th percentileAt the tap | 1.3 mg/LAction level | Within the limit |
| SodiumA naturally occurring salt component. | 11.2–11.8 mg/LRangeSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Disinfectants
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChlorineA disinfectant added to drinking water to kill bacteria and viruses. | 0–1.12 mg/LRangeSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Microbial
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total ColiformA group of bacteria used as an indicator of overall water-system sanitation. | 0.55Reported levelSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TOCTotal organic carbon — a measure of organic material dissolved in the water. | 1.67–1.94RangeSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| TurbidityA measure of cloudiness from suspended particles in the water. | 0.24 NTUReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
People also ask about Providence, RI's water
+Is Providence, RI tap water safe to drink in 2025?
Every one of the 11 contaminants measured in Providence, RI's 2025 Consumer Confidence Report is below its federal limit. "Safe" under the EPA's drinking-water standards is health-based, not aesthetic — but by those standards, no measured contaminant in this report exceeds its enforceable threshold. Individual health concerns (e.g. immunocompromised, infant, pregnancy) may warrant additional filtering regardless of compliance.
+What contaminants are in Providence, RI tap water?
11 contaminants were measured in Providence, RI's 2025 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning metals, disinfection byproducts, and physical & aggregate. 6 have an enforceable federal limit; the rest are detected but unregulated. Every measured value, in the utility's own units, is on this page.
+Are any contaminants in Providence, RI tap water approaching the federal limit?
One contaminant is between 80% and 100% of the federal limit in this report: TTHM. Approaching means measured but not in violation — a margin that can close quickly if conditions change.
+Where does the data on this page come from?
Every value is transcribed from Providence, RI's 2025 Consumer Confidence Report — the annual drinking-water report every U.S. public water utility is required by federal law to publish. The original source document is archived and viewable on this site. A water-quality report covers an entire service area, not a single address.
+How often is Providence, RI's water quality data updated?
Each U.S. public water utility publishes one Consumer Confidence Report per year, covering the prior calendar year's measurements. This page reflects the 2025 report; a new report will replace it once the utility publishes its next annual update.