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Westerly, RI Tap Water Quality 2026

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

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

Main Utility: Westerly Water Department PWSID: RI1559512 Updated: 2026 Q2
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PFAS above the federal limit at 4 of 7 sampling points

Lead is 5.10 ppb, 34% of the action level and no violations are open. However, PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 4 of 7 sampling points, running as high as 1.88 times the limit.

D

Westerly earns a D for water quality

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

Lead: 5.10 ppb — 34% of the federal action level
PFAS above the federal limit at 4 of 7 sampling points
56 violations since 2015, 0 health-based
No violations currently open
Westerly's lead level vs. all Rhode Island community water systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
Lead level: 5.10 ppb — 34% of the federal action level
✓ Lower lead than 18% of Rhode Island utilities
Population Served
22727
~14800 connections
Water Source
Groundwater
Drawn from wells — SDWIS source code GW
Active Violations
0
56 since 2015, all resolved

Lead & Copper Testing

Lead (Pb)
90th percentile of tap samples collected across the distribution system
34% of EPA action level
5.10 ppb
Action level: 15 ppb
Copper (Cu)
90th percentile of tap samples. SDWIS reports a copper figure only when a system exceeds the action level, so any value here is an exceedance.
130.8% of EPA action level
1,700 ppb
Action level: 1,300 ppb
The 90th-percentile lead result is 5.10 ppb, 34% 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. Copper reached the action level here; a copper figure appears in SDWIS only when a system triggers it.

Contaminant Violations (2015–Present)

ContaminantTypeMeasuredLimitPeriodStatus
Lead and Copper Rule MONITORING AND REPORTING — TT 2025 Unaddressed
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.07 mg/L 2024 Resolved
cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.07 mg/L 2024 Resolved
Xylenes, Total MONITORING AND REPORTING — 10 mg/L 2024 Resolved
DICHLOROMETHANE MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.005 mg/L 2024 Resolved
o-Dichlorobenzene MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.6 mg/L 2024 Resolved
p-Dichlorobenzene MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.075 mg/L 2024 Resolved
Vinyl chloride MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.002 mg/L 2024 Resolved
1,1-Dichloroethylene MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.007 mg/L 2024 Resolved
trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.1 mg/L 2024 Resolved
1,2-Dichloroethane MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.005 mg/L 2024 Resolved
1,1,1-Trichloroethane MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.2 mg/L 2024 Resolved
Carbon tetrachloride MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.005 mg/L 2024 Resolved
1,2-Dichloropropane MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.005 mg/L 2024 Resolved
Trichloroethylene MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.005 mg/L 2024 Resolved
1,1,2-Trichloroethane MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.005 mg/L 2024 Resolved
Tetrachloroethylene MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.005 mg/L 2024 Resolved
CHLOROBENZENE MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.1 mg/L 2024 Resolved
Benzene MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.005 mg/L 2024 Resolved
Toluene MONITORING AND REPORTING — 1 mg/L 2024 Resolved
Ethylbenzene MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.7 mg/L 2024 Resolved
Styrene MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.1 mg/L 2024 Resolved
Revised Total Coliform Rule REPORTING FAILURE — — 2023 Resolved
E. COLI MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0 2022 Resolved
Groundwater Rule MONITORING AND REPORTING — — 2020 Resolved
Endrin MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.002 mg/L 2020 Resolved
BHC-GAMMA MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.0002 mg/L 2020 Resolved
Methoxychlor MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.04 mg/L 2020 Resolved
Toxaphene MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.003 mg/L 2020 Resolved
Dalapon MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.2 mg/L 2020 Resolved
Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.4 mg/L 2020 Resolved
OXAMYL MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.2 mg/L 2020 Resolved
Simazine MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.004 mg/L 2020 Resolved
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.006 mg/L 2020 Resolved
Picloram MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.5 mg/L 2020 Resolved
Dinoseb MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.007 mg/L 2020 Resolved
Hexachlorocyclopentadiene MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.05 mg/L 2020 Resolved
Aldicarb sulfoxide MONITORING AND REPORTING — — 2020 Resolved
Aldicarb sulfone MONITORING AND REPORTING — — 2020 Resolved
Carbofuran MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.04 mg/L 2020 Resolved
Aldicarb MONITORING AND REPORTING — — 2020 Resolved
Atrazine MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.003 mg/L 2020 Resolved
LASSO MONITORING AND REPORTING — — 2020 Resolved
Heptachlor MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.0004 mg/L 2020 Resolved
Heptachlor epoxide MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.0002 mg/L 2020 Resolved
2,4-D MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.07 mg/L 2020 Resolved
2,4,5-TP MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.05 mg/L 2020 Resolved
HEXACHLOROBENZENE MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.001 mg/L 2020 Resolved
Benzo(a)pyrene MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.0002 mg/L 2020 Resolved
Pentachlorophenol MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.001 mg/L 2020 Resolved
1,2-DIBROMO-3-CHLOROPROPANE MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.0002 mg/L 2020 Resolved
ETHYLENE DIBROMIDE MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.00005 mg/L 2020 Resolved
Chlordane MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.002 mg/L 2020 Resolved
Revised Total Coliform Rule REPORTING FAILURE — — 2020 Resolved
E. COLI MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0 2020 Resolved
Chlorine MONITORING AND REPORTING — 4.0 mg/L 2015 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

56 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 Westerly Water Department
PWSID RI1559512
Water source Groundwater — Drawn from wells — SDWIS source code GW
Population served 22,727
Service connections 14,800
Systems serving this area 2
Regulator State primacy agency
Data through 2026 Q2 — EPA SDWIS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Westerly tap water safe to drink? ▼
It meets most federal standards, but PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 4 of 7 sampling points. No violations are currently open. Lead is 5.10 ppb, 34% of the action level.
Does Westerly water have PFAS? ▼
Yes. PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 4 of 7 sampling points, running as high as 1.88 times the limit. Limits are enforced on a running annual average at each sampling point, not on a single sample.
Who supplies water to Westerly? ▼
Westerly Water Department (PWSID RI1559512), one of 2 systems serving this area. Groundwater. Drawn from wells — SDWIS source code GW
When was this system last inspected? ▼
It was last inspected on 2025-05-20. Inspectors recorded 1 significant deficiency.

What Should Westerly Residents Do?

1
Consider a reverse-osmosis filter
Reverse osmosis removes more than 95% of PFAS. Standard carbon pitchers do not.
2
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.
3
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

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