Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in CENTRAL FALLS, Rhode Island
Tap water in CENTRAL FALLS, Rhode Island receives a grade of F (52/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by PAWTUCKET WATER SUPPLY BOARD VEOLIA-NA. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in CENTRAL FALLS's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving CENTRAL FALLS.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 1.26 ppt, 1256x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 16.7 ppb, 278x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 36.1 ppb, 241x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for PAWTUCKET WATER SUPPLY BOARD VEOLIA-NA (system ID RI1592021) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
| Rule | Type | Since | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule | Missed testing or reporting | 10/01/2025 | Open |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Missed reporting | 03/11/2025 | Open |
Source: U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), from the Safe Drinking Water Information System. See EPA's full report.
Recommended filters for CENTRAL FALLS
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in CENTRAL FALLS's water supply.
Filter certified for PFOA/PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58)
$180-$750Reverse osmosis and some carbon block filters reduce PFAS. Look for certification to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 for PFOA/PFOS.
Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)
$180-$599Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC reduction.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
All contaminants detected in CENTRAL FALLS's tap water
Every contaminant identified, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal. Why we show multiple standards →
| Contaminant | Detected | EWG US health-based |
EPA US legal |
EU DWD Europe |
WHO global |
CA PHG strictest US |
Tested sample year |
Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
6.01 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | EPA violation |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
1.26 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 1256× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
16.7 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 278× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
36.1 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 241× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
20.4 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 204× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
8.68 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 145× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
12.5 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 125× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
19.2 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 48× over |
| Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) PFAS |
0.263 ppt | 0.006 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 44× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
3.55 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 39× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
7.19 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 36× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
2.57 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 26× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.483 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 16× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
1.76 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 13× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
1.18 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 8.4× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.0804 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 4.0× over |
| 6:2 Fluorotelomer Sulfonic Acid (6:2 FTSA) Other |
1.5 ppt | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.5× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
161.5 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
29.7 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
30.9 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
33.1 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.573 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.243 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
1.4 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
1.36 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
1.31 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
2.13 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.944 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.0726 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.15 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
All values in the unit of the detected level. Red cells indicate the detected level exceeds that standard. Some contaminants have limits in some jurisdictions but not others (shown as —). The "Tested" column shows the year each contaminant sample was collected.
Sources: US EPA, EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184, WHO Guidelines, California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
Treatment plant contact info
For service issues, water quality concerns, or to request a Consumer Confidence Report from PAWTUCKET WATER SUPPLY BOARD VEOLIA-NA.