Is Providence tap water safe to drink?

Yes with good quality

Providence's tap water meets all EPA standards and scores well on our analysis. It is generally safe to drink though filtration can improve taste and provide extra precaution.

85/100
Purity Score
1
Issues Found
1.5 GPG
Hardness
Not detected
PFAS

1 Issue Detected in Providence

Arsenic Approaching Limit (0.1 mg/L)

EPA limit is 0.010 mg/L.

Arsenic info for Providence
Rhode Island

29,010,290,202,903 · Scituate Reservoir

Providence Tap Water Report: Safety and Contaminants

Low Risk Updated March 2026 179,335 residents
See Best Filters for Providence
85
Purity Score

Residents of Providence draw from Scituate Reservoir infrastructure managed by Providence Water Supply Board. This 2026 analysis evaluates safety, identifies any concerns, and recommends the best home filtration options.

Contaminant Levels

PFAS
ND
Lead
2.5 ppb
Nitrate
0.3 mg/L
Arsenic
0.1 mg/L
Hardness
1.5 gpg

Health Insights

  • 1
    Providence's water meets current EPA standards. Filtration can improve taste and provide extra safety.

Score

85 /100
Excellent
"Good" threshold (70)

Providence tap water is sourced from Scituate Reservoir and treated by Providence Water Supply Board. Overall purity score: 85/100 (Excellent). Updated for 2026.

Fix Your Water

Best filters matched to Providence's 1 issue.

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PFAS in ProvidenceForever chemicals
Lead in ProvidenceLead risk
Providence Hard WaterHardness data
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Providence Water FAQ

Is Providence RI tap water safe to drink in 2026?
Providence tap water meets EPA federal drinking water standards and scores 85/100 (Excellent) on PurityMap for 2026. For most healthy adults the water is considered safe but point-of-use filtration adds an important layer of protection.
Does Providence RI use chlorine or chloramine for disinfection?
Providence uses chloramine as the primary disinfectant with a residual level of 1.0 ppm. Chloramine is harder to remove than free chlorine and requires a catalytic carbon or reverse osmosis filter. Standard Brita-style pitchers will NOT remove chloramine.
How hard is Providence RI water and what is the TDS level?
Providence water hardness is 1.5 grains per gallon (soft) with a TDS of 42 ppm (excellent). This level is unlikely to cause significant scale buildup in household plumbing.
Has PFAS been found in Providence RI drinking water?
Based on available EPA UCMR5 monitoring data as of 2026 PFAS have not been detected above EPA advisory levels in Providence drinking water.
What is the best water filter for Providence?
Based on Providence's water profile, we recommend the Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher. Providence water scores well overall. A pitcher filter provides extra precaution and improves taste for drinking and cooking.

Nearby Reports

CranstonRhode Island — 85/100WarwickRhode Island — 85/100PawtucketRhode Island — 85/100

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Data Sources

  • EPA SDWIS
  • EWG Tap Water Database
  • Providence Water Supply Board CCR
  • USGS monitoring data

PurityMap compiles public data. Updated March 2026.

© 2026 PurityMap. For informational purposes only.

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