Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
KENT COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY
KENT COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY delivers tap water graded F (53/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 88,779 residents in COVENTRY, Rhode Island using surface water (purchased). The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic detected. For questions, the utility can be reached at 401-821-9300.
Is COVENTRY tap water safe to drink?
KENT COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY delivers tap water that earns a grade of F (53/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a poor rating, with significant contamination concerns and/or recent violations.
The utility serves 88,779 residents in COVENTRY and 7 other communities, drawing from surface water (purchased).
Public testing data identifies 17 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Chloroform, Dichloroacetic acid, Bromodichloromethane, Arsenic, Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Trichloroacetic acid, Nitrate, Nitrate and nitrite, Dibromochloromethane, Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Cadmium, Radium, combined (-226 and -228), 6:2 Fluorotelomer Sulfonic Acid (6:2 FTSA). For most residents, a properly certified home filter at the kitchen tap is the most cost-effective way to reduce exposure to whatever's in your water. See our filter recommendations below, matched specifically to this utility's contaminant profile.
Quick actions for COVENTRY residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for KENT COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) 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 0.848 ppt, 848x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 49.9 ppb, 333x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 16.4 ppb, 273x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Arsenic detected
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 0.25 ppb.
Contact KENT COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for COVENTRY
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Reverse Osmosis or NSF P473 certified carbon
$80-$750Activated carbon and RO are the only technologies proven to remove PFAS at certified levels.
Carbon block (NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)
$40-$750Activated carbon is highly effective for disinfection byproducts like TTHM and HAA5.
Reverse Osmosis
$249-$750Arsenic is most effectively removed by reverse osmosis. Some specialized adsorptive filters also work.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 53/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →
Contaminants detected — international standards comparison
Every contaminant detected, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal (the strictest US benchmark). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
0.848 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 848× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
49.9 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 333× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
16.4 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 273× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
17.8 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 178× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
38.0 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 95× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
14.1 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 71× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
4.04 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 67× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
0.25 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 63× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
3.89 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 43× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.95 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 20× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
1.29 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 9.2× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
1.23 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 8.8× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.792 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 7.9× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
1.8 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 6.0× over |
| Cadmium Heavy metal |
0.15 ppb | 0.04 | 5.0 | 5 | 3 | 0.04 | — | 3.8× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.09 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 1.8× over |
| 6:2 Fluorotelomer Sulfonic Acid (6:2 FTSA) Other |
1.4 ppt | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.4× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.025 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.016 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Uranium Radiological |
0.19 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
34.5 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.0373 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentane sulfonic acid (PFPeS) PFAS |
0.069 ppt | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Beryllium Heavy metal |
0.0625 ppb | 1.0 | 4.0 | — | — | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
10.5 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.73 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
9.88 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.137 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
4.24 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
4.2 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
0.145 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
2.53 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| MTBE Volatile organic compound |
0.0313 ppb | 13.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,1-Dichloroethane Volatile organic compound |
0.00627 ppb | 3.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
1.03 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
1.13 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.0685 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorodifluoromethane Other |
0.475 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.179 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 (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
KENT COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY service area
This water system serves 8 communities in Kent County, Rhode Island. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for COVENTRY water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.