Water mains are generally located 4 feet below ground.  This distance help to protect the mains from frost in colder climates.

Water mains are various in size, ranging from the smallest (6") to largest (102") in diameter.

On average, Providence Water has 250 employees.

There are approximately 6,275 fire hydrants in our distribution system.

 If the average person drinks the 'required' 64 ounces of water per day and lives to age 80, he/she will consume 14,600 gallons of water during their lifetime.

Providence Water has nearly 1,040 miles of water mains in our distribution system - enough to stretch from Providence to Florida!

Providence Water has approximately 76,800 service connections.

Providence Water provides water to (7) wholesalers - Greenville Water, the City of East Providence, Town of Smithfield, Lincoln Water, Kent County Water, Bristol Water, and the City of Warwick.

A standard toilet uses 3.5 gallons of water to flush.  All of those flushes can add up to approximately 20 gallons per day.

Taking a bath requires up to 70 gallons of water.

 The average resident uses about 100 gallons of water per day.

Many of the water mains in our distribution system were installed over 100 years ago.

Chlorine, ferric sulfate, fluoride, and lime.

The aerators located in front of our Purification Plant are used to improve the taste of the water, as well as to remove any unpleasant odors.

Providence Water serves Providence, North Providence, Cranston, Johnston, and East Smithfield.

Providence Water installs 5/8", 3/4", 1", 1.5", 2", 3", 4", 6", 8", 10", and 12" meters.

Flow from the source of water supply is entirely by gravity.  At present, the mode of delivery within the distribution system is 75% by gravity and 25% by pumping.

The first water pipes in the US were made from wood (bored logs that were charred with fire).

We have several types of main in our distribution system:  cast iron, ductile iron, concrete, steel, and asbestos cement.

The General Manager, the Executive Engineer and the Deputy General Manager of Administration oversee the daily operations at Providence Water.

 The average depth is 32 feet, the maximum depth is 90 feet.

Excluding the ice cover, the water temperature goes down to approximately 35 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter and climbs to approximately 59 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer (based on the depths that we draw from, not the surface).

It takes six and a half years for the average American residence to use the amount of water required to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool (660,000 gallons).  The calculation is as follows:  (Scituate Reservoir) 39,746,000,000 divided by (Olympic-sized pool) 660,000 = 60,221 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

The storage capacity of the Scituate Reservoir is approximately 39.7 billion gallons.

Turns occur right around April and October.  During the change of season, water temperatures differ from top to bottom. The different temperature waters have different density. The heavier water sinks while the lighter water rises thus causing a seasonal turn.

Fishing is not allowed in the Scituate Reservoir.

Yes, the water needs to be treated to reduce chemical and bacteriological contaminants.

The water in the Scituate Reservoir has a tint depending on the biological species present but overall it has a blue appearance.

 The average yearly rainfall at the Scituate Reservoir is 49.66 inches.

The Scituate reservoir dam is 3,200 feet long and 100 feet high.

The surface area of the Scituate Reservoir is 5.3 sq. miles, or 3,390 acres.

1,000 species have been identified.

The watershed is 92.8 square miles.

7 million trees have been planted.

Providence Water owns 5,000 acres of water and 13,000 acres of forest.

Personal recreational activities are not compatible with drinking water security but we do encourage participation in the guided tours we offer.

Scituate, Foster, Glocester, Western Cranston, and Western Johnston.

White pine, red pine, pitch pine, scarlet oak, red oak, black oak, white oak, white ash, and yellow birch.

Coyotes, foxes, bobcats, fishers, rabbits, deer, otters, beavers, turkeys, great blue herons, and owls.

Firewood, lumber, mulch, witch hazel, maple syrup, and wood chips for energy.

 The leaves of young tree seedlings.

The Barden, the Moswansicut, the Ponaganset, the Regulating, and the Westconnaug Reservoirs.

The watershed property is the largest physical asset that the City of Providence owns.