Smithfield, RI: Lead Above EPA Action Level - Home Safety 74/100
1 ZIP code · 5 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Smithfield: B.
This ZIP has a few items worth a quick check.
Looking at federal compliance records for Smithfield, 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 Smithfield Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
What You Should Know About Smithfield Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 24 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.017 mg/L. The EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L applies to each water system's own 90th percentile, not to this average.
- Homes built before 1986: 69% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $4,440 per household.
- Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 12.26.
Who Supplies Your Water in Smithfield
3 systems shown for Smithfield, RI, from 5 on the federal list.
- B
- B
- B
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Smithfield, Rhode Island (population ~15,068), covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 355,090 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 1 of 1 ZIP codes.
1 of 1 ZIP code with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 1 health-based violation appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Smithfield: B (74/100)
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
Smithfield water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0170 mg/L (exceeds EPA action level) (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 1 of 1 ZIP code with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
1 of 1 ZIP records with known zones is 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 12 | 1 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 8 | 1 |
| Chlorine | Disinfectant | 8 | 1 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 6 | 1 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 6 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02917 | B | 24 | 1 | Providence-city of |
All ZIP Codes in Smithfield
- 02917 [B] - 24 violations ⚠
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 Smithfield
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 Smithfield Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Housing & Infrastructure in Smithfield
With 69% 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 Smithfield: 1974, set against the 1986 federal lead limits for new plumbing.
Over half of homes in Smithfield 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.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Smithfield Homeowners
Home prices in Smithfield and the estimated cost of addressing flagged issues produce a ratio in the 1-2% band; that places the city between the low and elevated tiers, and because both inputs are area estimates, the actual cost for a given home may be higher or lower.
Estimated remediation costs in Smithfield can be compared with local home values. The estimated $2,910–$6,120 range is a planning estimate; get a property-specific quote and check it against your budget. Home values are 1% above the Rhode Island average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Smithfield
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.
Over 15 micrograms per liter: the mean of Smithfield's ZIP-level lead results. Older-than-1986 homes make up 69% of the stock.
1 ZIP code (100% of the city's ZIP records) is served by a water system whose 90th-percentile lead result exceeds the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical NFIP Claim Context in Smithfield
Historical NFIP data for Smithfield contains 27 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $15,611. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 0% 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 $4,440 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 Smithfield, RI