Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
PAWTUCKET WATER SUPPLY BOARD VEOLIA-NA
PAWTUCKET WATER SUPPLY BOARD VEOLIA-NA delivers tap water graded F (50/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 98,130 residents in CUMBERLAND, Rhode Island using surface water. 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. For questions, the utility can be reached at 401-789-0271.
Is CUMBERLAND tap water safe to drink?
PAWTUCKET WATER SUPPLY BOARD VEOLIA-NA delivers tap water that earns a grade of F (50/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a poor rating, with significant contamination concerns and/or recent violations.
The utility serves 98,130 residents in CUMBERLAND and 2 other communities, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 17 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Bromodichloromethane, Trichloroacetic acid, Chloroform, Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Dichloroacetic acid, Dibromochloromethane, Dibromoacetic acid, Nitrate and nitrite, Nitrate, Chromium (hexavalent), 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 CUMBERLAND residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for PAWTUCKET WATER SUPPLY BOARD VEOLIA-NA.
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.
Contact PAWTUCKET WATER SUPPLY BOARD VEOLIA-NA
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 CUMBERLAND
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.
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 50/100 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
PAWTUCKET WATER SUPPLY BOARD VEOLIA-NA service area
This water system serves 3 communities in Providence County, Rhode Island. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for CUMBERLAND water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.