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Is Pawtucket Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Yes! Generally Safe to Drink*

LAST UPDATED: 7:49 pm, July 28, 2022
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Table of Contents

Can You Drink Tap Water in Pawtucket?

Yes, Pawtucket's tap water is generally considered safe to drink as Pawtucket has no active health based violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) that we are aware of. Other factors such as lead piping in a home, or low levels of pollutants on immunocompromised individuals, should also be considered, however. To find more recent info we might have, you can check out our boil water notice page, the city's water provider website, or Pawtucket's local Twitter account.

According the EPA’s ECHO database, from April 30, 2019 to June 30, 2022, Pawtucket's water utility, City of Pawtucket-, had 0 violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act. For more details on the violations, please see our violation history section below. The last violation for Pawtucket was resolved on June 30, 2013. This assessment is based on the City of Pawtucket- water system, other water systems in the city may have different results.

While tap water that meets the EPA health guidelines generally won’t make you sick to your stomach, it can still contain regulated and unregulated contaminants present in trace amounts that could potentially cause health issues over the long-run. These trace contaminants may also impact immunocompromised and vulnerable individuals.

The EPA is reviewing if it’s current regulations around pollutant levels in tap water are strict enough, and the health dangers posed by unregulated pollutants, like PFAS.

Water Quality Report for Pawtucket Tap Water

The most recent publicly available numbers for measured contaminant levels in Pawtucket tap water are in its 2020 Water Quality Report. As you can see, there are levels which the EPA considers to be acceptable, but being below the maximum allowable level doesn’t necessarily mean the water is healthy.

Lead in tap water, for example, is currently allowed at up to 15ppb by the EPA, but it has set the ideal goal for lead at zero. This highlights how meeting EPA standards doesn’t necessarily mean local tap water is healthy.

EPA regulations continue to change as it evaluates the long term impacts of chemicals and updates drinking water acceptable levels. The rules around arsenic, as well as, lead and copper are currently being re-evaluated.

There are also a number of "emerging" contaminants that are not currently. For example, PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), for which the EPA has issued a health advisory. PFAS are called "forever chemicals" since they tend not to break down in the environment or the human body and can accumulate over time.

We recommend looking at the contaminants present in Pawtucket's water quality reports, or getting your home's tap water tested to see if you should be filtering your water.

Pawtucket Tap Water Safe Drinking Water Act Violation History - Prior 10 Years

Below is a ten year history of violations for the water system named City of Pawtucket- for Pawtucket in Rhode Island. For more details please see the "What do these Violations Mean?" section below.

From June 1, 2013 to June 30, 2013, Pawtucket had 1 health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Treatment Technique Violation, more specifically, the violation code was Single Turbidity Exceed (Enhanced SWTR) which falls into the Microbials rule code group, and the Surface Water Treatment Rules rule code family for the following contaminant code: Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule.

Is there Lead in Pawtucket Water?

Based on the EPA’s ECHO Database, 90% of the samples taken from the Pawtucket water system, City of Pawtucket-, between sample start date and sample end date, were at or below, 0.003 mg/L of lead in Pawtucket water. This is 20.0% of the 0.015 mg/L action level. This means 10% of the samples taken from Pawtucket contained more lead.

While Pawtucket water testing may have found 0.003 mg/L of lead in its water, that does not mean your water source has the same amount. The amount of lead in water in a city can vary greatly from neighborhood to neighborhood, or even building to building. Many buildings, particularly older ones, have lead pipes or service lines which can be a source of contamination. To find out if your home has lead, we recommend getting you water tested.

No amount of lead in water is healthy, only less dangerous. As lead accumulates in our bodies over time, even exposure to relatively small amounts can have negative health effects. For more information, please check out our Lead FAQ page.

Are there PFAS in Pawtucket Tap Water?

Currently, testing tap water for PFAS isn’t mandated on a national level. We do have a list of military bases where there have been suspected or confirmed leaks. There appears to be no military bases near Pawtucket with suspected leaks.

With many potential sources of PFAS in tap water across the US, the best information we currently have about which cities have PFAS in their water is this ewg map, which you can check to see if Pawtucket has been evaluated for yet.

Our stance is better safe than sorry, and that it makes sense to try to purify the tap water just in case.

Pawtucket SDWA Violation History Table - Prior 10 Years

Compliance Period Status Health-Based? Category Code Code Rule Code Contaminant Code Rule Group Code Rule Family Code
06/01/2013 - 06/30/2013 Resolved Yes Treatment Technique Violation (TT) Single Turbidity Exceed (Enhanced SWTR) (43) Long Term 1 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (122) Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (0300) Microbials (100) Surface Water Treatment Rules (120)

What do these Violations Mean?

Safe Drinking Water Act Violations categories split into two groups, health based, and non-health based. Generally, health based violations are more serious, though non-health based violations can also be cause for concern.

Health Based Violations

  1. Maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) - maximum allowed contaminant level was exceeded.
  2. Maximum residual disinfectant levels (MRDLs) - maximum allowed disinfectant level was exceeded.
  3. Other violations (Other) - the exact required process to reduce the amounts of contaminants in drinking water was not followed.

Non-Health Based Violations

  1. Monitoring and reporting violations (MR, MON) - failure to conduct the required regular monitoring of drinking water quality, and/or to submit monitoring results on time.
  2. Public notice violations (Other) - failure to immediately alert consumers if there is a serious problem with their drinking water that may pose a risk to public health.
  3. Other violations (Other) - miscellaneous violations, such as failure to issue annual consumer confidence reports or maintain required records.

SDWA Table Key

Field Description
Compliance Period Dates of the compliance period.
Status Current status of the violation.
  • Resolved - The violation has at least one resolving enforcement action. In SDWIS, this indicates that either the system has returned to compliance from the violation, the rule that was violated was no longer applicable, or no further action was needed.
  • Archived - The violation is not Resolved, but is more than five years past its compliance period end date. In keeping with the Enforcement Response Policy, the violation no longer contributes to the public water system's overall compliance status. Unresolved violations are also marked as Archived when a system ceases operations (becomes inactive).
  • Addressed - The violation is not Resolved or Archived, and is addressed by one or more formal enforcement actions.
  • Unaddressed - The violation is not Resolved or Archived, and has not been addressed by formal enforcement.
show details
Health-Based? Whether the violation is health based.
Category Code
The category of violation that is reported.
  • TT - Treatment Technique Violation
  • MRDL - Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level
  • Other - Other Violation
  • MCL - Maximum Contaminant Level Violation
  • MR - Monitoring and Reporting
  • MON - Monitoring Violation
  • RPT - Reporting Violation
show details
Code A full description of violation codes can be accessed in the SDWA_REF_CODE_VALUES (CSV) table.
Contaminant Code A code value that represents a contaminant for which a public water system has incurred a violation of a primary drinking water regulation.
Rule Code Code for a National Drinking Water rule.
  • 110 - Total Coliform Rule
  • 121 - Surface Water Treatment Rule
  • 122 - Long Term 1 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule
  • 123 - Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule
  • 130 - Filter Backwash Rule
  • 140 - Ground Water Rule
  • 210 - Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
  • 220 - Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
  • 230 - Total Trihalomethanes
  • 310 - Volatile Organic Chemicals
  • 331 - Nitrates
  • 332 - Arsenic
  • 333 - Inorganic Chemicals
  • 320 - Synthetic Organic Chemicals
  • 340 - Radionuclides
  • 350 - Lead and Copper Rule
  • 410 - Public Notice Rule
  • 420 - Consumer Confidence Rule
  • 430 - Miscellaneous
  • 500 - Not Regulated
  • 111 - Revised Total Coliform Rule
show details
Rule Group Code Code that uniquely identifies a rule group.
  • 120 - Surface Water Treatment Rules
  • 130 - Filter Backwash Rule
  • 140 - Groundwater Rule
  • 210 - Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
  • 220 - Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
  • 230 - Total Trihalomethanes
  • 310 - Volatile Organic Chemicals
  • 320 - Synthetic Organic Chemicals
  • 330 - Inorganic Chemicals
  • 340 - Radionuclides
  • 350 - Lead and Copper Rule
  • 400 - Other
  • 500 - Not Regulated
  • 110 - Total Coliform Rules
  • 410 - Public Notice Rule
  • 420 - Consumer Confidence Rule
  • 430 - Miscellaneous
show details
Rule Family Code Code for rule family.
  • 100 - Microbials
  • 200 - Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
  • 300 - Chemicals
  • 400 - Other
  • 500 - Not Regulated
show details

For more clarification please visit the EPA's data dictionary.

Pawtucket Water - Frequently Asked Questions

HOW DO I READ THIS TABLE?
It’s easy! This table shows the results of our water-quality analyses. Every regulated contaminant that we detected in the water, even in the most minute traces, is listed here along with the highest levels allowed by regulation (MCL), the ideal goals for public health, the amounts detected, the usual sources of such contamination, footnotes explaining our findings and a key to units of measurement. 1 Pawtucket Water adds fluoride to its treated water to prevent tooth decay and improve dental health in children. 2 @90th percentile, no site exceeded Action Level. 3 @90th percentile, no site exceeded Action Level. If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. The Pawtucket Water Supply Board is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Infor- mation on lead in drinking water, testing methods and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead. 4 For 2020, 0.299 ntu was the highest single turbidity measurement recorded. The lowest monthly percentage of samples meeting turbidity limit was 100%. 5 Running Annual Average. 6 These results represent the sum of 5 Haloacetic acids. HAA5s are required monitoring under the Disinfection By-Product regulation. 7 Locational Running Annual Average.
HOW CAN YOU BE INVOLVED?
Meetings of the Pawtucket Water Supply Board begin at 5 P.M. on the second Tuesday of every month and are open to the public. Meetings are held in the Board’s conference room at 85 Branch Street head- quarters in Pawtucket. El informe contiene informacion importante sobre la calidad del agua en su comunidad. Traduzcalo o hable con alguien que lo entienda bien. MISSION STATEMENT The mission of the Pawtucket Water Supply Board (PWSB) is to continue to implement compre- hensive strategies to facilitate a water supply, trans- mission, and distribution system for our customers at an affordable rate that provides a reliable safe supply of potable water, in accordance with Federal and State Safe Drinking Water Act requirements, for domestic, commercial, industrial, municipal, fire flow, and all other needs. Additional Health Information To ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA pre- scribes limits on the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. FDA regula- tions establish limits for contaminants in bottled water. Drinking water, including bottled water, may rea- sonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health risk and effects can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800) 426-4791. The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dis- solves naturally-occurring mineral and radioactive mate- rial and can pick up substances resulting from the pres- ence of animals or from human activity. Contaminants that may be present in source water include:
HOW DO I CONTACT PAWTUCKET CUSTOMER SERVICE?
To contact customer service for the Pawtucket water provider, City of Pawtucket-, please use the information below.
By Mail: 85 BRANCH STREET
PAWTUCKET, RI, 02860
HOW TO PAY BILL FOR CITY OF PAWTUCKET-
Already have an account?

Existing customers can login to their City of Pawtucket- account to pay their Pawtucket water bill by clicking here.

Want to create a new account?

If you want to pay your City of Pawtucket- bill online and haven't made an account yet, you can create an account online. Please click here to create your account to pay your Pawtucket water bill.

Want to pay without an account?

If you don't want to make an account, or can't remember your account, you can make a one-time payment towards your Pawtucket water bill without creating an account using a one time payment portal with your account number and credit or debit card. Click here to make a one time payment.

HOW TO START & STOP PAWTUCKET WATER SERVICE
Starting Your Service

Moving to a new house or apartment in Pawtucket means you will often need to put the water in your name with City of Pawtucket-. In order to put the water in your name, please click the link to the start service form below. Start service requests for water bills typically take two business days.

Start Service Form

Want to create a new account?

Leaving your house or apartment in Pawtucket means you will likely need to take your name off of the water bill with City of Pawtucket-. In order to take your name off the water bill, please click the link to the stop service form below. Stop service for water bills requests typically take two business days.

Stop Service Form

USER SUBMITTED RATINGS

Pawtucket tap water
  • Drinking Water Pollution and Inaccessibility 43% Moderate
  • Water Pollution 53% Moderate
  • Drinking Water Quality and Accessibility 58% Moderate
  • Water Quality 48% Moderate

The above data is comprised of subjective, user submitted opinions about the water quality and pollution in Pawtucket, measured on a scale from 0% (lowest) to 100% (highest).

Related FAQS

Pawtucket Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence Report)

The EPA mandates that towns and cities consistently monitor and test their tap water. They must report their findings in an annual Consumer Confidence Report. Below is the most recent water quality report from Pawtucket's Water. If you would like to see the original version of the report, please click here.

2020

CONSUMER

CONFIDENCE

As required by the Environmental Protection Agency, a Department of the US Government.

WATER QUALITY REPORT

Pawtucket Water is pleased to present a summary of the quality of the drinking water provided to you, our customers, dur- ing the past year. The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) re- quires all water utilities to issue an annual “Consumer Confi- dence” report to its customers. This is the twenty-third in a series of reports intended to promote increased consumer awareness of the quality of their water and the actions their utility is taking to ensure continued safe drinking water. Our report details where your water originates, what it contains and how it compares to standards established by the federal government. Rest assured, Pawtucket Water and its employees are committed to providing our customers with the safest and most reliable drinking water possible.

If you have any questions concerning this report please feel free to contact the Water Quality Supervisor at the PWSB Water Quality Laboratory, 727-4300 ext.102.

THE WATER IS SAFE TO DRINK

The Pawtucket Water Supply Board (PWSB) ensures the safety of the drinking water provided to the customer through a program of monitoring and testing. The PWSB Water Quality Laboratory and the RI Department of Health (RIDOH) extensively monitor the water both before and after the treatment process. The water quality is monitored even after it goes through the dis- tribution mains and is delivered to the customer. There are nu- merous federal and state regulations that govern drinking water.

These regulations provide structure on how, when and why samples are to be taken. The regulations tell the water supplier what to monitor, how often the tests should be run and how much of something can be present in the water. At the present time, there are over 70 regulated contaminants and over 30 unregulated contaminants that must be monitored by PWSB. The PWSB, with help from RIDOH, tests for over 170 different contaminants in your drinking water. These tests are performed daily, monthly, quarterly, or yearly as required.

The water delivered to the customer is monitored daily for turbidity, pH, color, odor, fluor ide, and bacter- iological contamination. The Water Quality Laboratory collects over 20 samples every day with an average of 600 samples taken each month. By sampling so often we are not only meeting federal and state regulations, we are en- suring that the water we provide our customers is SAFE to drink.

The table included in this report only lists those results that had detectable amounts of a contaminant. All of the results reported are below the maximum contaminant level set by regulations. If you would like a complete listing of all the analysis done on the water, please call the PWSB Water Quality Laboratory at 727-4300 ext. 102. You can also visit our web site at www.pwsb.org to find this listing and other helpful information.

Reporting Period from January 1, 2020-December 31, 2020

How do I read this table?

It’s easy! This table shows the results of our water-quality analyses. Every regulated contaminant that we detected in the water, even in the most minute traces, is listed here along with the highest levels allowed by regulation (MCL), the ideal goals for public health, the amounts detected, the usual sources of such contamination, footnotes explaining our findings and a key to units of measurement.

 

 

 

 

 

Detected

 

 

SDWA

Regulated Substances

Period

Unit

MCL

MCLG

level

Range

Major sources

Violation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Erosion of natural deposits; Water

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

additive which promotes strong

 

Fluoride1

 

 

 

 

 

 

teeth; Discharge from fertilizers and

 

2020

ppm

4

4

0.88

0.41 - 0.88

aluminum factories.

NO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corrosion of household plumbing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

systems; Erosion of natural depos-

 

Copper2

 

 

 

 

 

 

its; Leaching from wood preserva-

 

2019

ppm

AL=1.3

1.3

0.264

0.027 - 0.324

tives.

NO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corrosion of household plumbing

 

Lead3

 

 

 

 

 

 

systems; Erosion of natural depos-

 

2019

ppb

AL=15

0

2.0

<1.0 - 12.0

its.

NO

 

 

Removal

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Organic Carbon

 

Ratio

 

 

1.70 5

 

Naturally present in the environ-

 

(TOC)

2020

Result

TT

NA

1.30 - 2.06

ment.

NO

 

 

 

Presence of

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coliform bac-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

teria in <5% of

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

monthly sam-

 

 

 

Naturally present in the environ-

 

Total Coliform Bacteria

2020

NA

ples

0

0.00%

0.00%

ment.

NO

Turbidity4

2020

NTU

TT

0

0.299

0.038 - 0.299

Soil runoff.

NO

 

 

 

 

 

0.91 5

 

Water additive used to control mi-

 

Chlorine

2020

ppm

4

4

0.03 - 1.72

crobes.

NO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Erosion of natural deposits. Runoff

 

Nitrate

2020

ppm

10

10

3.33

0.78 - 3.33

of fertilizer. Septic systems.

NO

Total Trihalomethanes

 

 

 

 

34.4 7

 

By-product of drinking water chlorin-

 

(TTHM)

2020

ppb

80

NA

9.2 - 53.5

ation.

NO

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) 6

 

 

 

 

16.7 7

 

By-product of drinking water chlorin-

 

2020

ppb

60

NA

1.8 - 27.3

ation.

NO

Barium

2020

ppm

2

2

0.046

0.046

Erosion of natural deposits.

NO

Combined Radium

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

226/228

2009

pCi/L

5

0

1.02

1.02

Erosion of natural deposits.

NO

 

 

 

 

 

Detected

 

 

 

Unregulated Substances

Period

Unit

MCL

MCLG

level

Range

Major sources

 

Sodium

2020

ppm

100

NA

46.7

30.3 - 46.7

Erosion of natural deposits.

NO

1 Pawtucket Water adds fluoride to its treated water to prevent tooth decay and improve dental health in children.

2 @90th percentile, no site exceeded Action Level.

3 @90th percentile, no site exceeded Action Level. If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. The Pawtucket Water Supply Board is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Infor- mation on lead in drinking water, testing methods and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

4 For 2020, 0.299 ntu was the highest single turbidity measurement recorded. The lowest monthly percentage of samples meeting turbidity limit was 100%.

5 Running Annual Average.

6 These results represent the sum of 5 Haloacetic acids. HAA5s are required monitoring under the Disinfection By-Product regulation.

7 Locational Running Annual Average.

Definitions:

Maximum Contaminant Level or MCL: The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water.

MCL’s are set as close to the MCLG’s as feasible, using the best available treatment technology. Maximum Contaminant Level Goal or MCLG: The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.

Action Level (AL): The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirement that a water system must follow.

Treatment Technique (TT): a required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.

Variances and Exemptions: State or EPA permission not to meet an MCL or a treatment technique under certain conditions. The data presented in this report is from the most recent testing done in accordance with regulations.

To Table

AL=Action Level

MCL=Maximum Contaminant Level MCLG=Maximum Contaminant Level Goal NTU = Nephelometric Turbidity Units

ppm = parts per million, or milligrams per liter (mg/l)

ppb = parts per billion, or micrograms per liter (ug/l)

  1. = Treatment Technique n/a = not applicable

PAWTUCKET WATER SUPPLY BOARD

The Pawtucket Water Supply Board is a semi- autonomous agency of the City of Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The Pawtucket Water Supply Board operates

  1. water system that serves the Cities of Pawtucket and Central Falls and the Valley Falls section of Cum- berland. The Town of Cumberland purchases whole- sale water from the Pawtucket Water Supply Board.
    The Pawtucket Water Supply Board of Directors is comprised of six members. Four of those members are appointed by the Mayor of the City of Pawtucket and confirmed by the Pawtucket City Council. The fifth member is the Finance Director of the City of Paw- tucket, who serves ex-officio. The sixth member is a City Councilor appointed by the Pawtucket City Coun- cil
    The current board is: William Masuck, Chairper- son, James Bradford, Vice Chairperson, Thomas Hodge, Mark Theroux, Joanna L’Heureux, City of Pawtucket Finance Director, and Michael Araujo, Paw- tucket City Councilor.

MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD

The Pawtucket Water Supply Board (PWSB) is pleased to present this annual Consumer Confidence Report. The PWSB continues to produce and deliver high quality drinking water which meets or exceeds regulations set forth by the Federal Safe Drinking Wa- ter Act (SWDA). The PWSB will continue an aggres- sive capital improvement program which consists of the replacement or cleaning and lining of the distribution system piping network. In 2020, the PWSB replaced or cleaned and lined 2.2 miles of water main. The entire system is expected to be completed by 2022.

This report contains information and data regarding water quality, health information and financing. PWSB customers can look forward to the continued delivery of high quality drinking water well into the future. I trust that you will find the 2020 Consumer Confidence Re- port to be useful and informative.

William W. Masuck

Chairperson

How Can You Be Involved?

Meetings of the Pawtucket Water Supply Board begin at 5 P.M. on the second Tuesday of every month and are open to the public. Meetings are held in the Board’s conference room at 85 Branch Street head- quarters in Pawtucket.

El informe contiene informacion importante sobre la calidad del agua en su comunidad. Traduzcalo o hable con alguien que lo entienda bien.

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Pawtucket Water Supply Board (PWSB) is to continue to implement compre- hensive strategies to facilitate a water supply, trans- mission, and distribution system for our customers at an affordable rate that provides a reliable safe supply of potable water, in accordance with Federal and State Safe Drinking Water Act requirements, for domestic, commercial, industrial, municipal, fire flow, and all other needs.

Additional Health Information

To ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA pre- scribes limits on the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. FDA regula- tions establish limits for contaminants in bottled water.

Drinking water, including bottled water, may rea- sonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health risk and effects can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800) 426-4791.

The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dis- solves naturally-occurring mineral and radioactive mate- rial and can pick up substances resulting from the pres- ence of animals or from human activity.

Contaminants that may be present in source water include:

  1. Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria which may come from sewage treat- ment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock op- erations, and wildlife.
  2. Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally occurring or result from urban storm water runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining and farming.
  1. Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, storm water runoff and residential uses.
  2. Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organics, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban storm water runoff and septic systems
  3. Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas pro- duction and mining activities. In order to ensure the tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants in wa- ter provided by public water systems.
    Some people may be more vulnerable to contami- nants in drinking water than is the general population. Immuno-compromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, persons with HIV/AIDS and/or other immune system disorders, some elderly and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers, Environmental Protec- tion Agency, and/or Center for Disease Control. Guide- lines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infec- tion by Cryptosporidium are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline: (800) 426-4791.

Source Water Assessment

The RI Department of Health and the University of Rhode Island, in cooperation with other state and feder- al agencies, have assessed the threats to PWSB’s wa- ter supply sources. The assessment considered the intensity of development, the presence of businesses and facilities that use, store or generate potential con- taminants, how easily contaminants may move through the soils in the Source Water Protection Area (SWPA), and the sampling history of the water.

Our monitoring program continues to assure that the water delivered to your home is safe and whole- some. However, the assessment found that the water source is at “MEDIUM” risk of contamination. Protec- tion efforts are necessary to assure continued water quality. The complete Source Water Assessment Re- port is now available at http://web.uri.edu/nemo/source -water-protection/.

Pawtucket Water has been delivering safe, de- pendable drinking water 7 days a week, 24 hours a day since February 2, 1878, when water was turned on to the City and its 24 mile distribution system.

Water Conservation Tips

The Pawtucket Water Supply Board strongly en- courages its’ customers to conserve water. By doing so, you will not only save on your water bill, you will also save on sewer and septic system cost. For more infor- mation on water saving appliances, please log on to: www.epa.gov/watersense.

Use water consuming appliances such as dish- washers and washer machines only when neces- sary.

Wash only full loads of clothing and dishes.

Make sure your faucets and toilets do not have any leaks.

Check plumbing for leaks.

Make sure new faucets, toilets and appliances are water efficient models.

Take shorter showers.

Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth, shaving or rinsing dishes.

Don’t pour water down the drain if it can be used for other things such as plant watering.

Financing of the PWSB

The PWSB operates as an enterprise fund. As such its costs and expenses including debt service are recovered from user charges. The PWSB is required to maintain its books and records in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles as applied to government agencies.

The PWSB utilizes the National Association of Regu- lated Utility Commissioners system of accounts. This sys- tem is audited annually.The PWSB is required to file quarter- ly and annual reports with the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission.

The Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission regulates the rates the PWSB charges. Rate increases are granted in the form of gross revenues required to operate the water supply system. The Public Utilities Commission is a three person quasi-judicial body that rules on proposed rate in- creases after considering relevant positions and testimony relative to the proposed rate increase. The Division of the Public Utilities Commission is represented by the State Attorney General’s office as the advocate of the rate payer. From the date the request to increase rates is filed to the granting of an increase takes up to seven months.

Those of you who may have questions may email through www.pwsb.org

and/or contact the Chief Engineer at:

401-729-5001

Safe Drinking Water

Hotline (800) 426-4791

For more information, call the

Pawtucket Water Supply Board at (401) 729-5000.

You can also learn more about the Pawtucket Water Supply

Board at

www.pwsb.org

Reminder

Always take extra precautions, the water may be safe to drink when it leaves the sewage treatment plant but it may pick up pollutants during its way to your tap. We advise that you ask locals or hotel staff about the water quality. Also, note that different cities have different water mineral contents.

Sources and Resources

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