Is West Warwick, RI tap water safe?
Data: U.S. EPA · How we read the data · How we check it
Summary
Kent County Water Authority had PFAS above the 2024 federal limits (PFOA) in EPA's 2023–2025 testing.
Is it an emergency? No: PFAS limits are about years of exposure, not a glass of water, and nothing in EPA's data calls for you to stop drinking the water today. If your utility issues a boil-water or do-not-drink notice, follow it.
Kent County Water Authority supplies West Warwick (94,107 people).
Water system
Kent County Water Authority
94,107 people · Purchased surface water · EPA ID RI1559511
Buys treated water from City of Providence, City of Warwick.
| PFAS | Highest average | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| PFOA Above limit | 7.1 ppt | 4 ppt |
| PFOS Not detected | – | 4 ppt |
| PFHxS Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
| PFNA Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
ppt = parts per trillion. "Highest average" is the highest average at any of the system's entry points, the way EPA compares results with the limits.
For context: the PFOA average is higher than at 84% of the Rhode Island systems EPA tested.
Lead: 2.1 ppb at the 90th percentile (Nov 2026, and 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below it) Below action level
Health-based violations since 2016: 0
Across Rhode Island, 7 of 26 water systems EPA tested had PFAS above a 2024 federal limit, and 6 systems were above the lead action level in results from the last five years. Rhode Island results.
West Warwick homes and lead pipes
Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so homes from before then are the ones to check. Renting? Ask your landlord what the service line is made of, because it's their pipe to replace. How to check your own line.
Housing: Census American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for West Warwick town (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| Warwick 5 mi Kent County Water Authority | Above limit | 2.1 ppb |
| Cranston 6 mi City of Providence | None above limits | 1.7 ppb |
| Coventry 7 mi Kent County Water Authority | Above limit | 2.1 ppb |
| North Kingstown 8 mi Kent County Water Authority | Above limit | 2.1 ppb |
| Johnston 10 mi City of Providence | None above limits | 1.7 ppb |
| Providence 11 mi City of Providence | None above limits | 1.7 ppb |
West Warwick ZIP codes (1)
- 02893
Questions
Is West Warwick tap water safe to drink?
Kent County Water Authority has had no health-based violations since 2016, and EPA testing found PFAS above the 2024 federal limits, which it must meet by 2029. Utility data can't show lead from your own pipes: if your home was built before 1986, test your tap. Your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report is the official summary.
Who supplies water in West Warwick, RI?
Kent County Water Authority, which serves 94,107 people.
Does West Warwick tap water have PFAS?
Yes. EPA's 2023–2025 testing found entry-point averages above the 2024 federal limits for PFOA at Kent County Water Authority. Systems have until 2029 to meet them.
Do West Warwick homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 68% of West Warwick homes as built before 1980 (Rhode Island: 71%). Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so older homes are more likely to have them. Kent County Water Authority's service line inventory says what your line is made of. The only way to know for your home is to check the line where it enters the house and test your tap.
Source: U.S. EPA drinking water records and PFAS testing (UCMR 5). How we read the data.