Official State of Rhode Island website

State of Rhode Island Department of Health

Boil Water Notice Removed for Prudence Island Water District Customers

Published on Tuesday, October 06, 2026

The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) has notified the Prudence Island Water District (PIWD) that the boil water notice issued to its customers can be removed.  

RIDOH and PIWD alerted customers to this boil water notice on October 5, 2018 because E. coli bacteria was found in the water supply. It is being lifted now because of the installation and activation of a permanent chlorination treatment system. This work faced delays because of its technical complexity and because the sources of funding to support it changed at different points in the project review process. These changes in the project’s funding source impacted the type of review, the parties involved in the review, and the compliance requirements for the project. 

PIWD initially implemented several corrective actions to remedy the reoccurring coliform presence in the distribution system. However, the coliform issues still remained. RIDOH required PIWD to install permanent chlorination at all wells and implement cross connection control. In 2021, PIWD agreed to install permanent chlorination systems, but needed more time for cross connection control due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenges. RIDOH required the boil water notice to remain in place until the permanent chlorination systems were installed and demonstrated safe operation for a minimum of two months. PIWD received approval from RIDOH to activate the permanent chlorination systems, and they were activated on August 4, 2026.  

The treatment system upgrades were ultimately funded with a 100% principal forgiveness State Revolving Fund loan through a partnership between Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank (RIIB) and RIDOH. 

The treatment systems have maintained the minimum chlorine residual at the treatment plants and throughout the distribution system for two consecutive months, and routine monitoring has demonstrated absent total coliform and E. coli sample results. Therefore, RIDOH is approving the boil water notice to be lifted.  

For more information, customers should refer to the notice provided to them by their water supply officials. Additional information can be found on the RIDOH Center for Drinking Water Quality website at http://www.health.ri.gov/water/for/consumersduringemergency/ (scroll down to “What You Should Do Following Boil Water Advisories and Precautionary Boil Water Advisories”).

Customers with questions should contact PIWD, at 401-683-0011.

Resources for food establishments, businesses, schools, and healthcare facilities: 

 

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