Providence, RI: 12 Violations - Home Safety 82/100
12 ZIP codes · 3 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Providence: B.
This ZIP has a few items worth a quick check.
Looking at federal compliance records for Providence, RI: the city earns a grade in the top two bands here, and each serving system's violation history can be reviewed individually for what lies behind it.
How Providence Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Water Quality Map: Providence, RI
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Score Distribution
How ZIP codes in Providence score across all safety grades.
What You Should Know About Providence Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 12 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0003 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 89% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 12.26.
Who Supplies Your Water in Providence
Service in Providence, RI can differ by address: 3 water systems are tied to the area in federal records, and the 3 largest are listed with their violation records.
- B
- B
- B
Overview
We track home safety data for 12 ZIP codes in Providence, Rhode Island (population ~219,179), covering 3 community water systems serving approximately 352,601 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 9 of 12 ZIP codes.
9 of 9 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. The available record reports no health-based violations for this measured scope.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Providence: B (82/100)
Model 4.0.0 uses four measured components across three equally weighted domains. If a required domain is unavailable, no score is published:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| PFAS MCL Screen | UCMR 5 testing against the covered federal MCLs |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
| Annual AQI | EPA AirData county-year median with at least 90 observed days |
Water Sources
Providence water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0003 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 9 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
12 of 12 ZIP records with known zones are in EPA Radon Zone 2.
The EPA recommends testing all homes regardless of radon zone. County radon zones cannot replace an in-home radon test.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total organic carbon | Disinfection Byproducts | 10 | 9 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 10 | 9 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 10 | 9 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 8 | 1 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 8 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02905 | B | 12 | 0 | Providence-city of |
| 02903 | B | 3 | 0 | Providence-city of |
| 02904 | B | 3 | 0 | Providence-city of |
| 02906 | B | 3 | 0 | Providence-city of |
| 02907 | B | 3 | 0 | Providence-city of |
| 02908 | B | 3 | 0 | Providence-city of |
| 02909 | B | 3 | 0 | Providence-city of |
| 02912 | B | 3 | 0 | Providence-city of |
| 02918 | — | 3 | 0 | Providence-city of |
All ZIP Codes in Providence
- 02901
- 02902
- 02903 [B] - 3 violations
- 02904 [B] - 3 violations
- 02905 [B] - 12 violations
- 02906 [B] - 3 violations
- 02907 [B] - 3 violations
- 02908 [B] - 3 violations
- 02909 [B] - 3 violations
- 02912 [B] - 3 violations
- 02918 - 3 violations recorded for mapped water systems
- 02940
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Lead/copper: EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data
- Radon: EPA Map of Radon Zones
Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.
Health Outcomes in Providence
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). County health indicators are shown for context only and are not linked to this area's water records.
Compared to National Average
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
Top Contaminants in Providence Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Housing & Infrastructure in Providence
With 89% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. Federal law banned lead solder in drinking-water plumbing in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
Median construction year in Providence: 1931, set against the 1986 federal lead limits for new plumbing.
Over half of homes in Providence were built before 1986, when federal law began restricting lead solder in drinking-water plumbing. Older plumbing may leach lead into drinking water, especially with corrosive water chemistry.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Providence
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states that no safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
If you have young children or are pregnant, consider testing your home's water - especially if your home was built before 1986.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical NFIP Claim Context in Providence
Historical NFIP data for Providence contains 506 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $34,522. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 56% have an A- or V-family dominant rated zone recorded in those historical claims. This is not a complete current FEMA property-map inventory.
How flooding affects water quality: Flood events can introduce sewage, agricultural runoff, and industrial chemicals into water supplies. Even after floodwaters recede, contamination can persist in wells and aging infrastructure.
Claim count does not establish current property risk. Check the exact address in FEMA's current map and obtain a property-specific insurance quote when relevant.
Source: historical FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claim records. No current FEMA property-map designation is asserted.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Providence, RI