Rhode Island Water Quality Report: 729 Violations Across 70 ZIPs
110 water systems · 70 ZIP codes · 729 violations · Updated
Data: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), EPA ECHO Last verified:
ZipCheckup tracks EPA drinking-water compliance for 110 public water systems serving 70 ZIP codes in Rhode Island. The state record shows 729 EPA violations, 69 health-based.
City Water Quality Map: Rhode Island
Each circle represents a city. Size indicates population, color indicates water quality grade. Tap a circle for details.
Violation Trend
EPA violations across all water systems in Rhode Island.
Cities with Most Violations in Rhode Island
| # | City | Grade | Violations | Systems | Population | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portsmouth | 81 | 3 | 17,635 | Details → | |
| 2 | Prudence Island | 77 | 2 | 105 | Details → | |
| 3 | Charlestown | 62 | 4 | 8,017 | Details → | |
| 4 | Wakefield | 59 | 5 | 22,628 | Details → | |
| 5 | Saunderstown | 53 | 5 | 6,715 | Details → | |
| 6 | West Kingston | 49 | 4 | 5,704 | Details → | |
| 7 | Kingston | 47 | 5 | 7,183 | Details → | |
| 8 | Tiverton | 30 | 3 | 16,260 | Details → | |
| 9 | Coventry | 29 | 2 | 33,246 | Details → | |
| 10 | Westerly | 25 | 2 | 21,698 | Details → |
Most Common Contaminants in Rhode Island
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected | Health Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 95 | 22 | Yes |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 49 | 36 | Yes |
| Chlorite | Disinfection Byproducts | 34 | 26 | No |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 30 | 18 | No |
| Fecal Coliform | Microbiological | 26 | 18 | No |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 22 | 20 | No |
| Contaminant 1009 | Other | 18 | 7 | No |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 15 | 14 | No |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 13 | 8 | No |
| Contaminant 2010 | Other | 10 | 9 | No |
Water Quality Overview
Rhode Island has 110 community water systems represented across 70 directly mapped ZIP records. The associated city records cover approximately 1,075,790 people. The available records contain 729 EPA violations, including 69 health-based violations.
Health-based violations account for 9% of all violations in Rhode Island. These violations indicate contaminant levels that may pose direct risks to human health, as opposed to monitoring or reporting failures.
Violation Breakdown
| Violation Type | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Health-based | 69 | 9.5% |
| Monitoring/Reporting | 660 | 90.5% |
| Total | 729 | 100% |
Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeding EPA Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs). Monitoring violations indicate failures to test or report - these do not necessarily mean unsafe water, but they mean the water was not properly verified.
Cities with Most Violations
The following cities in Rhode Island have the highest number of EPA violations:
| Rank | City | Violations | Water Systems | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portsmouth | 81 | 3 | 17,635 |
| 2 | Prudence Island | 77 | 2 | 105 |
| 3 | Charlestown | 62 | 4 | 8,017 |
| 4 | Wakefield | 59 | 5 | 22,628 |
| 5 | Saunderstown | 53 | 5 | 6,715 |
| 6 | West Kingston | 49 | 4 | 5,704 |
| 7 | Kingston | 47 | 5 | 7,183 |
| 8 | Tiverton | 30 | 3 | 16,260 |
| 9 | Coventry | 29 | 2 | 33,246 |
| 10 | Westerly | 25 | 2 | 21,698 |
Violation counts are cumulative across all water systems serving each city. Higher counts may reflect larger systems with more monitoring requirements, not necessarily worse water quality.
Violation Trend Over Time
Year-by-year EPA violations recorded across all water systems in Rhode Island:
| Year | Total Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 18 | 18 |
| 2022 | 17 | 17 |
| 2023 | 32 | 32 |
| 2024 | 3 | 3 |
| 2025 | 13 | 13 |
Violations have decreased from 18 in 2021 to 13 in 2025, suggesting improving compliance across Rhode Island.
Most Common Contaminants
The following contaminants have caused the most violations across Rhode Island water systems:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 95 | 22 | Yes |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 49 | 36 | Yes |
| Chlorite | Disinfection Byproducts | 34 | 26 | No |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 30 | 18 | No |
| Fecal Coliform | Microbiological | 26 | 18 | No |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 22 | 20 | No |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 15 | 14 | No |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 13 | 8 | No |
| Atrazine | Organic | 10 | 9 | No |
| Benzene | Organic | 10 | 9 | No |
How to Check Your Water in Rhode Island
Enter your ZIP code on ZipCheckup for detailed water-system data including contaminant levels and violation history; the separate Home Safety Score is a multi-source index
Request your CCR - every water utility must provide an annual Consumer Confidence Report
Get a home test - certified kits ($20-$50) or professional lab tests ($150-$400)
Consider filtration - NSF-certified filters can address specific contaminants found in your area
EPA Enforcement
The EPA and state regulators have taken 623 enforcement actions against water systems in Rhode Island. Enforcement actions range from compliance assistance to formal orders and penalties.
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Enforcement: EPA ECHO
Updated daily.
What are EPA violations?
Health-based violations mean a contaminant was detected above the EPA's Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) - the legal limit designed to protect human health. Rhode Island has 69 such violations across its water systems. Not all violations cause illness, but repeated exceedances increase risk, especially for children and immunocompromised individuals.
Understanding water quality grades
ZipCheckup grades water systems from A to F based on EPA violation history, contaminant levels, and system compliance. Grade A means few or no violations; Grade F indicates persistent or serious issues. Grades are calculated per ZIP code and aggregated at the city, county, and state level.
Wondering about your tap water?
Water quality varies by ZIP code. Enter yours to see contaminant data, violations, and filtration recommendations specific to your area.
Check Your ZIP Code Water Quality →Frequently Asked Questions
Is the tap water safe to drink in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island has 110 community water systems with 729 recorded EPA violations, including 69 health-based. Water quality varies by city and ZIP code - check your specific location for detailed results.
How many water violations does Rhode Island have?
Rhode Island has 729 total EPA violations across 70 ZIP codes. 69 are health-based violations that indicate contaminant levels potentially harmful to human health. The remainder are monitoring or reporting violations.
Which city in Rhode Island has the worst water quality?
Portsmouth, RI has the most EPA violations among major cities in Rhode Island with 81 recorded violations. Check individual ZIP codes for the most accurate picture of your local water quality.
Which city in Rhode Island has the best water quality?
Several cities in Rhode Island maintain excellent EPA compliance. Check individual city reports for details.
What contaminants are found in Rhode Island drinking water?
Rhode Island water systems are monitored for over 90 EPA-regulated contaminants including lead, copper, nitrates, disinfection byproducts, and bacteria. The most common violations vary by region - check your ZIP code for contaminant-specific data.