Contaminants and rules in Rhode Island water systems
77 different rules and contaminants appear in the past three years of violation records for Rhode Island's 439 active public water systems. The tables show how many systems each one affected and how many of those violations are still unresolved. Most entries are monitoring, reporting, or notification lapses rather than confirmed contamination.
Microbial
Bacteria and the rules that test for them. Health-based when a sample is positive.
| Rule or contaminant | Code | Rhode Island systems with violations, 3 yr | Share | In violation, latest quarter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revised Total Coliform Rule (RTCR) | 8000 | 80 | 18% | 29 |
| E. coli (Escherichia coli) | 3014 | 11 | 3% | 1 |
Inorganic Chemical
Naturally occurring or from fertilizer and industry. Each has a maximum contaminant level.
| Rule or contaminant | Code | Rhode Island systems with violations, 3 yr | Share | In violation, latest quarter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 1040 | 32 | 7% | 0 |
| Nitrite | 1041 | 17 | 4% | 0 |
| Chromium | 1020 | 4 | 1% | 0 |
| Mercury | 1035 | 4 | 1% | 0 |
| Arsenic | 1005 | 3 | 1% | 0 |
| Barium | 1010 | 3 | 1% | 0 |
| Cadmium | 1015 | 3 | 1% | 0 |
| Cyanide | 1024 | 3 | 1% | 0 |
| Nickel | 1036 | 3 | 1% | 0 |
| Selenium | 1045 | 3 | 1% | 0 |
| Antimony | 1074 | 3 | 1% | 0 |
| Beryllium | 1075 | 3 | 1% | 0 |
| Thallium | 1085 | 3 | 1% | 0 |
Disinfection Byproduct
Formed when chlorine reacts with organic matter in the water.
| Rule or contaminant | Code | Rhode Island systems with violations, 3 yr | Share | In violation, latest quarter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TTHM (Total Trihalomethanes) | 2950 | 15 | 3% | 2 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 2456 | 12 | 3% | 0 |
| Chlorite | 1009 | 2 | 0% | 0 |
Treatment Technique
Rules that require a process, such as corrosion control or disinfection, rather than a measured limit.
| Rule or contaminant | Code | Rhode Island systems with violations, 3 yr | Share | In violation, latest quarter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) | 5000 | 32 | 7% | 32 |
| Chlorine (MRDL) | 0999 | 8 | 2% | 0 |
| Groundwater Rule (GWR) | 0700 | 6 | 1% | 2 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | 0300 | 2 | 0% | 0 |
Monitoring and Reporting
Administrative requirements. No direct health risk from the violation itself.
| Rule or contaminant | Code | Rhode Island systems with violations, 3 yr | Share | In violation, latest quarter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notification Rule | 7500 | 23 | 5% | 23 |
Volatile Organic Compound
Solvents and fuel components, usually monitored as a group, which is why the counts are similar.
| Rule or contaminant | Code | Rhode Island systems with violations, 3 yr | Share | In violation, latest quarter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene | 2378 | 9 | 2% | 1 |
| cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene | 2380 | 9 | 2% | 1 |
| Xylenes, Total | 2955 | 9 | 2% | 1 |
| Dichloromethane (Methylene Chloride) | 2964 | 9 | 2% | 1 |
| o-Dichlorobenzene | 2968 | 9 | 2% | 1 |
| p-Dichlorobenzene | 2969 | 9 | 2% | 1 |
| Vinyl Chloride | 2976 | 9 | 2% | 1 |
| 1,1-Dichloroethylene | 2977 | 9 | 2% | 1 |
| trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene | 2979 | 9 | 2% | 1 |
| 1,2-Dichloroethane | 2980 | 9 | 2% | 1 |
| 1,1,1-Trichloroethane | 2981 | 9 | 2% | 1 |
| Carbon Tetrachloride | 2982 | 9 | 2% | 1 |
| 1,2-Dichloropropane | 2983 | 9 | 2% | 1 |
| Trichloroethylene (TCE) | 2984 | 9 | 2% | 1 |
| 1,1,2-Trichloroethane | 2985 | 9 | 2% | 1 |
| Tetrachloroethylene (PCE) | 2987 | 9 | 2% | 1 |
| Chlorobenzene | 2989 | 9 | 2% | 1 |
| Benzene | 2990 | 9 | 2% | 1 |
| Toluene | 2991 | 9 | 2% | 1 |
| Ethylbenzene | 2992 | 9 | 2% | 1 |
| Styrene | 2996 | 9 | 2% | 1 |
| Ethylene Dibromide (EDB) | 2946 | 8 | 2% | 0 |
Organic Chemical
Industrial and synthetic organic chemicals with a maximum contaminant level.
| Rule or contaminant | Code | Rhode Island systems with violations, 3 yr | Share | In violation, latest quarter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 2039 | 14 | 3% | 2 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Adipate | 2035 | 9 | 2% | 0 |
| Hexachlorocyclopentadiene | 2042 | 9 | 2% | 0 |
| Hexachlorobenzene | 2274 | 9 | 2% | 0 |
| Benzo(a)pyrene | 2306 | 9 | 2% | 0 |
| Pentachlorophenol | 2326 | 8 | 2% | 0 |
| 1,2-Dibromo-3-Chloropropane (DBCP) | 2931 | 8 | 2% | 0 |
Pesticide
Pesticides and herbicides, monitored as a group.
| Rule or contaminant | Code | Rhode Island systems with violations, 3 yr | Share | In violation, latest quarter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oxamyl (Vydate) | 2036 | 10 | 2% | 0 |
| Aldicarb Sulfoxide | 2043 | 10 | 2% | 0 |
| Aldicarb Sulfone | 2044 | 10 | 2% | 0 |
| Carbofuran | 2046 | 10 | 2% | 0 |
| Aldicarb | 2047 | 10 | 2% | 0 |
| BHC-Gamma (Lindane) | 2010 | 9 | 2% | 0 |
| Methoxychlor | 2015 | 9 | 2% | 0 |
| Toxaphene | 2020 | 9 | 2% | 0 |
| Simazine | 2037 | 9 | 2% | 0 |
| Atrazine | 2050 | 9 | 2% | 0 |
| Alachlor (Lasso) | 2051 | 9 | 2% | 0 |
| Heptachlor | 2065 | 9 | 2% | 0 |
| Heptachlor Epoxide | 2067 | 9 | 2% | 0 |
| Chlordane | 2959 | 9 | 2% | 0 |
| Endrin | 2005 | 8 | 2% | 0 |
| Dalapon | 2031 | 8 | 2% | 0 |
| Picloram | 2040 | 8 | 2% | 0 |
| Dinoseb | 2041 | 8 | 2% | 0 |
| 2,4-D | 2105 | 8 | 2% | 0 |
| 2,4,5-TP (Silvex) | 2110 | 8 | 2% | 0 |
Radionuclide
Naturally occurring radioactive elements in groundwater.
| Rule or contaminant | Code | Rhode Island systems with violations, 3 yr | Share | In violation, latest quarter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combined Uranium | 4006 | 2 | 0% | 0 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U | 4000 | 1 | 0% | 0 |
| Radium-226 | 4020 | 1 | 0% | 1 |
| Radium-228 | 4030 | 1 | 0% | 1 |
Other rules
| Rule or contaminant | Code | Rhode Island systems with violations, 3 yr | Share | In violation, latest quarter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon, Total | 2920 | 5 | 1% | 0 |
About this data
A system is counted once per rule if any of its violations in the past three years involved that rule, including monitoring and reporting lapses. In violation, latest quarter counts systems whose contaminant list for the latest official quarter in EPA's data, or new violations reported since, includes this entry. Share is of the 439 active Rhode Island systems.
Source: the U.S. EPA's Enforcement and Compliance History Online system (ECHO), which publishes the federal Safe Drinking Water Information System. EPA's terms and values are shown as published. The Rhode Island records are from EPA's data refresh of Oct 7, 2026; EPA refreshes this data quarterly, and states report to EPA with a lag of three to six months, so the newest violations may not appear yet. Retrieved from ECHO on Oct 11, 2026.