Providence
Providence, RI water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
providence-city of
surface water (rivers/reservoirs) · local government · PWSID RI1592024
Below EPA's 15 ppb lead action level at last testing.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1
Providence, RI is a mid-sized city, with a population near 179,207 and the largest community in Rhode Island. Like much of Rhode Island, Providence draws its water primarily from Scituate Reservoir and groundwater.
Providence's water outlook is shaped most by aging infrastructure — the issue that dominates planning across Rhode Island. A compact, reservoir-fed system with infrastructure-age as the leading concern.
Providence sits in a state that reuses roughly 3% of treated wastewater (minimal programs) and currently experiences moderate to severe drought.
For the bigger picture, see the Rhode Island state water profile and the related issues below.
Providence County water quality
Source: EPA SDWIS · 2026 Q1
At a glance
- Population ~179,207 (largest in Rhode Island)
- Primary sources: Scituate Reservoir and groundwater
- Drought: moderate to severe conditions
- State reuse rate: ~3% of wastewater
Statewide drought history
% of Rhode Island in severe+ drought (Severe (D2) now).
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor
Common questions
Is tap water safe in Providence?
Providence's largest water system, PROVIDENCE-CITY OF, serves about 333,142 people. EPA records show 1 health-based violation(s) since 2016 and a most-recent 90th-percentile lead level of 1.6 ppb (EPA action level is 15 ppb). Always check your own provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report.
Where does Providence get its water?
PROVIDENCE-CITY OF draws primarily from surface water (rivers/reservoirs), part of Rhode Island's supply from Scituate Reservoir, groundwater.