Providence Water is currently in compliance with the Lead and Copper Rule. EPA's Lead and Copper Rule establishes action levels (AL) of 15 ug/L for lead and 1.3 mg/L for copper based on 90th percentile level of tap water samples. An AL exceedance is not a violation but can trigger other requirements that include water quality parameter (WQP) monitoring, corrosion control treatment (CCT), source water monitoring/treatment, public education, and lead service line replacement (LSLR).

  90th percentile
Lead, ug/l		 90th percentile
Copper, mg/l
year 1st period 2nd period Action Level 1st period 2nd period Action Level
19971 11 14 >15 0.049 0.031 >1.3
19982 10 >15 0.037 >1.3
1999 10 >15 0.043 >1.3
2000 10 >15 0.038 >1.3
2002-20033 13 >15 0.039 >1.3
2005 11 >15 0.031 >1.3
20064 23 >15 0.078 >1.3
2007 20 21 >15 0.107 0.056 >1.3
2008 14 21 >15 0.087 0.045 >1.3
2009 16 30 >15 0.096 0.070 >1.3
2010 21 20 >15 0.060 0.040 >1.3
2011 15 21 >15 0.060 0.040 >1.3
2012 14 25 >15 0.050 0.037 >1.3
20135 13 30 >15 0.039 0.022 >1.3
2014 10 16 >15 0.032 0.023 >1.3
2015 9 15 >15 0.027 0.015 >1.3
2016 13 16 >15 0.020 0.016 >1.3
2017 14 17 >15 0.022 0.015 >1.3

1 Initial round of compliance sampling per US EPA's Lead & Copper Rule.

2 PW reduced to annual sampling as approved by RIDOH.

3 PW reduced to triennial sampling as approved by RIDOH.

4 Annual sampling required as a result of treatment change (slight decrease in pH and alkalinity) implemented in Sept. 2005.

5 PW implemented treatment change (increase in pH and alkalinity) and began unidirectional flushing program.