Rhode Island Water Quality Report 2026
Rhode Island tap water is safe to drink based on our analysis of 4 water systems serving 420,545 residents. The average PurityMap score is 85.0/100 (Grade: A), which is 7.1 points above the national average.
- No major contaminant flags across Rhode Island cities. All cities meet EPA federal drinking water standards.
Rhode Island water is generally good quality. A carbon pitcher or faucet filter removes chlorine taste and provides extra protection. No major filtration investment is needed for most residents.
Soft
Rhode Island is 7.1 points above the US average of 77.9/100. Hardness is 4.7 GPG below the US average of 6.3 GPG.
All 4 cities score similarly
How Rhode Island's 4 cities score on the PurityMap 0–100 scale:
Water quality for the most populated cities. Click any city for details.
| City | Population | Score | Hardness | Key Issues |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | 179K | 85/100 | 1.5 GPG | — |
| Cranston | 83K | 85/100 | 1.5 GPG | — |
| Warwick | 83K | 85/100 | 1.8 GPG | — |
| Pawtucket | 76K | 85/100 | 1.5 GPG | — |
Rhode Island generally has soft to moderate water. Average: 1.6 GPG (Soft). Most residents do not need a softener.
Based on EPA UCMR5 data, PFAS have not been detected above advisory levels in any Rhode Island cities in our database as of 2026.
All Rhode Island cities have lead below 5 ppb. Average: 2.7 ppb. Individual homes with older plumbing may have higher levels.
Where Rhode Island gets its drinking water, based on 4 water systems.
| Source Type | Cities | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Surface Water | 4 | 100% |
Rhode Island water is generally good. A carbon pitcher filter improves taste.
| # | City | Pop. | Score | Hardness | Lead | PFAS | TDS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Providence | 179K | 85/100 | 1.5 GPG (Soft) | 2.5 ppb | ✅ No | 42 ppm |
| 2 | Cranston | 83K | 85/100 | 1.5 GPG (Soft) | 2.5 ppb | ✅ No | 42 ppm |
| 3 | Warwick | 83K | 85/100 | 1.8 GPG (Soft) | 2.8 ppb | ✅ No | 52 ppm |
| 4 | Pawtucket | 76K | 85/100 | 1.5 GPG (Soft) | 3.0 ppb | ✅ No | 42 ppm |
Rhode Island has 3 utilities. Major: Providence Water Supply Board, Kent County Water Authority, Pawtucket Water Supply Board.
Sources: Scituate Reservoir, Hunt River and Scituate Reservoir, Moshassuck River and Providence Water.
- EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System
- EWG Tap Water Database
- State utility Consumer Confidence Reports
- USGS regional water monitoring data
PurityMap compiles publicly available data and does not perform independent testing.
4 city water quality reports available for Rhode Island.
Pawtucket Water Quality Report
Providence Water Quality Report
Warwick Water Quality Report
Compare water quality reports across all 50 US states