Bristol, RI Tap Water Quality 2026

Water quality report for Bristol, RI — PFAS, lead and copper results, violation history and state inspection findings from EPA SDWIS.

A look at Bristol's drinking water using EPA enforcement records: violations, lead and copper results, PFAS sampling and state inspection findings.

Main Utility: Bristol County Water Authority PWSID: RI1647515 Updated: 2026 Q2

✅

No federal limits exceeded on record

Lead is 1.90 ppb, 13% of the action level and no violations are open. No PFAS was detected.

Bristol earns an A for water quality

Graded on violations, lead, and PFAS, with state inspection findings.

Lead: 1.90 ppb — 13% of the federal action level

PFAS tested, none detected

5 violations since 2015, 0 health-based

No violations currently open

Bristol's lead level vs. all Rhode Island community water systems

0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb

Lead level: 1.90 ppb — 13% of the federal action level

✓ Lower lead than 42% of Rhode Island utilities

Population Served

21803

~15744 connections

Water Source

Surface water

Purchased from another system — SDWIS source code SWP

Active Violations

5 since 2015, all resolved

Lead & Copper Testing

Lead (Pb)

90th percentile of tap samples collected across the distribution system

13% of EPA action level

1.90 ppb

Action level: 15 ppb

The 90th-percentile lead result is 1.90 ppb, 13% of the 15 ppb federal action level. The action level is a treatment trigger, not a legal maximum, and it is measured across sampled taps rather than at any single home.

Contaminant Violations (2015–Present)

Contaminant	Type	Measured	Limit	Period	Status
TTHM	MONITORING AND REPORTING	—	0.080 mg/L	2024	Resolved
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)	MONITORING AND REPORTING	—	0.060 mg/L	2024	Resolved
Turbidity	MONITORING AND REPORTING	—	TT	2017	Resolved
Cryptosporidium	MONITORING AND REPORTING	—	—	2017	Resolved
E. COLI	MONITORING AND REPORTING	—	0	2017	Resolved

Understanding violation types MCL violations mean a contaminant exceeded the federal maximum limit — the most serious type.
TT (Treatment Technique) violations mean required treatment procedures weren't followed, but don't necessarily mean contamination occurred.

Violation History

5 violations are on record since 2015, of which 0 were health-based. All have been resolved and none remain open.

About the Main Water System

Utility Bristol County Water Authority

PWSID RI1647515

Water source Surface water — Purchased from another system — SDWIS source code SWP

Population served 21,803

Service connections 15,744

Systems serving this area 1

Regulator State primacy agency

Data through 2026 Q2 — EPA SDWIS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bristol tap water safe to drink? ▼

No federal limit is exceeded on record. No violations are currently open. Lead is 1.90 ppb, 13% of the action level.

Does Bristol water have PFAS? ▼

It was tested for the six regulated PFAS compounds and none were detected.

Who supplies water to Bristol? ▼

Bristol County Water Authority (PWSID RI1647515). Surface water. Purchased from another system — SDWIS source code SWP

When was this system last inspected? ▼

It was last inspected on 2024-06-05. No significant deficiencies were recorded.

What Should Bristol Residents Do?

Read your annual water report

Your supplier publishes a Consumer Confidence Report each July covering the prior year.

Check for a lead service line

Lead reaches tap water mainly through service lines and household plumbing. Suppliers now publish an inventory identifying lead lines.

Flush before drinking

If water has sat in pipes more than six hours, run the cold tap for two minutes before drinking or cooking.

Nearby Cities in Rhode Island

Barrington, Ri Tap Water Quality 2026 Bristol Warren, Ri Tap Water Quality 2026 Bristol