Providence, RI: 12 Violations - Home Safety 82/100
12 ZIP codes · 3 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Providence: B.
This ZIP looks solid, with a few items worth a quick check.
Providence's tap water quality puts it in RI's upper tier - health-based violations are rare and the compliance record is consistently above average.
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 in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0003 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 89% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,800 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 12.26 - above typical levels.
Who Supplies Your Water in Providence
3 water utilities share the residential service territory in Providence, RI - out of 3 total systems in federal 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 lead level (90th percentile): 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
Dominant radon zone: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 12 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 0 ZIP codes
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorite | Disinfection Byproducts | 10 | 9 |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 10 | 9 |
| Fecal Coliform | Microbiological | 10 | 9 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 8 | 1 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 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
- 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). Water contamination can correlate with respiratory and chronic health conditions.
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. The EPA banned lead solder in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
The lead that enters tap water in older homes often comes not from the municipal supply but from the home's own plumbing - from solder used in copper joints before the 1986 federal ban, or from lead pipes installed before 1970. In Providence, where the median build year is 1931, these older materials are widespread. More than half the residential stock predates the 1986 solder ban, and a significant fraction predates 1970 as well. For residents in those homes, the city-wide water quality picture is a less relevant frame than the specific materials inside their own walls and under their own street.
Over half of homes in Providence were built before 1986, when lead solder was banned. Older plumbing may leach lead into drinking water, especially with corrosive water chemistry.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Providence Homeowners
How much of a Providence home's value does documented remediation represent? A small fraction - the equity share here is in the low tier, and from a household financial perspective, most property owners are considering a commitment that fits comfortably within standard planning rather than a decision that rises to the level of a material budget event or significant equity consideration.
Remediation costs in Providence are relatively low compared to home values. The $883–$2,983 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 24% below the Rhode Island average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Providence
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states there is no safe level of lead exposure for children. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
Locally, 89% of Providence homes carry interior plumbing from the era when lead solder was still permitted in new builds, and citywide monitoring approaches or crosses the EPA action benchmark. Households can find a draw-test kit and certified filtration through verified retailers.
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. The <strong>$1,800</strong> remediation estimate shown here excludes flood insurance and is not derived from NFIP claim count.
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