Purpose
Drinking water from public water systems is regularly tested for substances that can harm health. Public water systems in Rhode Island are required to test for a group of chemicals called per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS). Public water systems were required to collect initial samples for PFAS by July 1, 2023. The results of that testing can be found in this report. If you do not know which water system your water comes from, check your water bill. If you don’t receive a water bill, contact the town you live in and provide your address.
More Information about PFAS
Rhode Island PFAS Requirement
On September 18, 2024, an amendment to the Public Drinking Water Regulations that requires public water systems to monitor for six PFAS contaminants went into effect in Rhode Island. The regulations establish a MCL of 20 ppt for the six PFAS contaminants. The six PFAS contaminants are perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), and perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA), and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA). The MCL of 20 ppt is the maximum amount of PFAS allowed in drinking water by Rhode Island law.
- Due to the potential for increased risk to human health, do not drink orders are being issued for systems with PFAS results that are greater than 70 ppt. Ongoing do not drink notices can be found online here.
- Public water systems with results greater than 20 ppt are required to issue public advisories to their customers. They also have 180 days to enter into an agreement with RIDOH outlining how they will lower the level of PFAS in their water.