City of East Providence
Department of Public Works
Water Utilities Division
60 Commercial Way
East Providence, RI 02914-1006 Phone: 401-435-7741 FAX: 401-435-7745
PWSID #RI16156110
WATER QUALITY REPORT
2023
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Water Utilities Division Mission Statement
The mission of the East Providence Water Utilities Division is to provide its customers with the highest quality drinking water at the flow and pressure necessary to protect the public health and welfare and support economic development within the City of East Providence.
General Information
The East Providence City Council meets on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month with the exception to the months of July and August when one meeting is held. Meetings begin at 6:30 p.m. and are held in the Council Chambers at East Providence City Hall, 145 Taunton Avenue East Providence, RI. Drinking water issues are discussed as necessary.
Where Does My Drinking Water Come From?
Your drinking water comes entirely from surface water reservoirs located in a 93-square mile, mostly rural, forested watershed basin located primarily in Scituate, RI. The main source of this water supply is the Scituate Reservoir, which is the terminal reservoir in a network of six interconnected reservoirs: the Scituate Reservoir, Regulating Reservoir, Barden Reservoir, Moswansicut Reservoir, Ponaganset Reservoir, and Westconnaug Reserve
In 2017, the Providence Water Supply Board (PWSB) formally assessed the threats to the Scituate Reservoir. The assessment considered land use, pollution sources, and overall reservoir condition.
The assessment confirmed that the Scituate Reservoir system is at medium risk of contamination. PWSB is continuing with the protection efforts necessary to ensure continued water quality.
Revisions to the Source Water Assessment Plan were completed in August 2023.
The Source Water Assessment Plan is available on the Providence Water website at www.provwater.com/swap.
How is our water quality measured?
State and federal regulations require all water suppliers to test for microbes and chemicals a specified number of times each year. The test for microbes is done most frequently, based on the size of the population served by the water supplier. The regulations require that these water quality tests be conducted in certified laboratories using federally approved testing methods. Last year the City of East Providence tested over 2000 samples in compliance with the state and federal regulations. The PWSB also conducts extensive testing before, during, and after the water treatment process. The results of those tests are detailed in this report.
Lead Informational Statement
If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. The East Providence Water Utilities Division is responsible for providing high quality drinking water but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.
Unregulated Contaminant
Sodium is an unregulated contaminant. The PWSB sampled for sodium in 2023 and detected a level of 15.0 mg/l. The major sources of sodium found in water supplies are the erosion of natural deposits and runoff from road de-icing operations.
Capital Improvements
In 2023, the division made infrastructure replacements and improvements to improve the reliability of the water system and improve the quality of service to our consumers. Specifically:
- Source of Supply
- Performed inspection of our main transmission line from point of connection at Budlong Road in Cranston to Kent Heights in East Providence.
○ Updated water quality monitoring at Budlong Road Station.
○ In conjunction with BCWA, we completed the 60% design milestone on Pawtucket Pipeline Project.
○ Ongoing Water Quality Study to determine impacts of mixing Providence Water with Pawtucket Water.
○ Finalized $26.1 million package for infrastructure improvements to the RIIB for meter replacement, cleaning and lining of old pipes, and replacement of valves.
○ Completed design for replacement of 1800 feet of 12-inch main on Highland Avenue.
- Meters and Radios
- Installation of 640 meters
- Installation of 1515 meter interface units (radios)
- Distribution System Improvements
- Replacement of 19 hydrants
- Moved 2, 12-inch mains from private property to public property, 1200 feet total.
- Replaced 83 outdated water services.
- Flushed Zones 4, 5, 6.
- Emergency repair of 24 water main breaks.
Water Main Flushing
The Water Utilities Division resumed flushing water mains in neighborhoods in spring 2023. Flushing maintains water quality in several ways. For example, flushing removes sediments like iron and manganese. Although iron and manganese do not pose health concerns, they can affect the taste, clarity, and color of the water. Additionally, sediments can shield microorganisms from the disinfecting power of chlorine, contributing to the growth of microorganisms within distribution mains. Flushing helps remove stale water and ensures the presence of fresh water with sufficient dissolved oxygen, disinfectant levels, and an acceptable taste and smell.
During flushing operations in your neighborhood, you may notice some short-term increases in the color and iron level in your cold water. Although harmless to health, you should avoid using your tap water for household purposes during this period as it may cause minor staining of fixtures and laundry. If you do use the tap, allow your cold water to run for a few minutes at full velocity before use and avoid using hot water to prevent sediment accumulation in your hot water tank.
Exceedances:
There were no water quality exceedances in 2023. Water quality met all applicable state and federal drinking water standards.
Variances and Exceptions
There were no variances or exemptions granted to East Providence Water or the PWSB by the State in 2023.
Health Information
To ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes limits on the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. FDA regulations established limits for contaminants in bottled water.
Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline 1-800-426-4791 or the EPA website www.epa.gov.
The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and radioactive material and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity. Contaminants that may be present in source water include:
- Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.
- Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally-occurring or result from urban storm runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining or farming.
- Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, storm water runoff, and residential uses.
- Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organics, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and also can come from gas stations, urban storm water runoff and septic systems.
- Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities. In order to ensure the tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems.
Additional Important Health Information
Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their healthcare providers. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium are available from the following:
·Safe Drinking Water Hotline: 1-800-426-4791 or EPA website at www.epa.gov.
Information on the Internet
The U.S. EPA Office of Water (www.epa.gov) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov) websites provide a substantial amount of information on many issues relating to water resources, water conservation and public health. Also, the PWSB has a website (www.provwater.com) that provides complete and current information on our drinking water.
The Water Utilities Division has prepared and provided to you this annual water quality report in accordance with the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). This report contains information on the City's water source and water quality provided to our customers.
The table shown below displays the results of the 2023 water quality analysis performed by the City (EP) and the PWSB. We feel it is important that you know exactly what was detected, how much was detected and how much of the substance was present in the water. Every regulated contaminant that we detected in the water, even in the most minute traces, is listed here along with the highest levels allowed by regulation (MCL), the ideal goals for public health (MCLG), the amounts detected, the usual sources of such contamination, footnotes explaining our findings and a key to units of measurement.
Key to Table
AL = Action Level ND = None Detected
MCL = Maximum Contaminant Level NTU = Nephelometric Turbidity Units
MCLG = Maximum Contaminant Level Goal pCi/L = Picocuries per Liter (a measure of radioactivity) MRDL = Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level ppb = Parts per billion or micrograms per liter (µg/L) MRDLG = Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal ppm = Parts per million or milligrams per liter (mg/L) NA = Not Applicable TT = Treatment Technique
Definitions
Action Level (AL): The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, trigger a treatment or other requirement that a water system must follow.
Maximum Contaminant Level or MCL: The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal or MCLG: The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level or MRDL: The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that the addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal or MRDLG: The level of drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.
Parts per Billion (ppb): One part per billion (microgram per liter) is the equivalent to one penny in $10,000,000.00. Parts per Million (ppm): One part per million (milligram per liter) is the equivalent to one penny in $10,000.00.
Picocuries per Liter (pCi/L): A measurement of natural rate of disintegration.
Treatment Technique (TT): A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water. Variances and Exemptions: State or EPA permission not to meet a MCL or a treatment under certain conditions. The data presented in this report is from the most recent testing done in accordance with regulations.
1Unregulated contaminants are those for which EPA has not established drinking water standards. The purpose of unregulated contaminant monitoring is to assist EPA in determining the occurrence of unregulated contaminants in drinking water and whether future regulation is warranted.
2Compliance is based upon the highest locational running annual average (LRAA), and the range is based upon the lowest and highest individual measurement.
3This value refers to the highest monthly percentage of positive samples detected during the year. In 2023, East Providence Water collected 2126 samples for the total coliform rule compliance monitoring. All 2126 samples taken for total coliform rule compliance samples were absent for total coliform.
4An Escherichia (E. coli) MCL violation occurs when any of the four conditions below are met: (1) The system has an E. coli-positive repeat sample following a total coliform positive routine sample. (2) The system has a total coliform positive repeat sample following an
E. coli-positive routine sample. (3) The system fails to take all required repeat samples following an E. coli-positive routine sample. (4) The system fails to test for E. coli when any repeat sample tests positive for total coliform. In 2023, E. coli bacteria was detected in 0 of the 2126 samples taken for total coliform rule compliance monitoring.
5In order to comply with the EPA standard, the removal ratio must be greater than 1. Detected level is the lowest ratio per quarter. Range is the lowest and highest ratios per month.
61.67 NTU was the highest single turbidity measurement recorded. The lowest monthly percentage of samples meeting the turbidity limit was 100%. The average turbidity value for 2023 was <0.10 NTU.
7Sampling conducted in accordance with the lead/copper rule of the SDWA. The above data represents the most recent results. No samples were above the action level for lead or copper for 2023.
?? Questions ??
For additional information please contact:
- Daniel V. Borges, Director, Department of Public Works (401) 435-7701; dborges@eastprovidenceri.gov
- Emerson J. Marvel, Water Superintendent, East Providence Water Utilities Division (401) 435-7741; waterdept@eastprovidenceri.gov
- Rhode Island Department of Health, Drinking Water Quality (401) 222-6867; www.health.ri.gov
