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water services

Yes, you can drink the tap water in Providence, Rhode Island. The city pulls water from the Scituate Reservoir and purifies it thoroughly in a local water treatment plant. The plant uses a variety of processes, including aeration, filtration, pH adjustment, and fluoridation, to ensure the water is safe to drink. All the city’s drinking water meets or exceeds the standards listed in the Safe Drinking Water Act.

While the State of Rhode Island Department of Health regulates water quality, older service lines and the pipes in individual buildings may affect the water that comes out of your tap. The state has audited service lines; check your building’s status on the Public Transparency Dashboard. If you’re concerned, you can also install a point-of-source water cooler that filters water on demand.

Providence has soft water, which means that it has a low mineral concentration. That’s good news for your business. It means you don’t need to worry about buildup or limescale. Bear in mind that soft water sometimes has a higher sodium content than normal, which could be a concern for employees with certain health conditions. A reverse osmosis (RO) water filtration system can help reduce sodium levels and create safer drinking water for everyone in the facility.

Polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) have been found in Rhode Island’s drinking water, but not in all areas. As a result, the state changed its regulations to address the issue. As of September 18, 2024, PFAS levels in public drinking water must be less than 20 parts per trillion (ppt). The state continues to monitor levels.

Drinking water is the major source of exposure to PFAS. Because PFAS from water can build up in the body over time, you might opt to install a water filter with advanced carbon or reverse osmosis filtration.