Public water system · RI1647515
ActiveBristol County Water Authority
At a glance
Bristol County Water Authority (PWSID RI1647515) is an active community water system in Bristol County, Rhode Island. It reports serving 49,000 people through 15,744 service connections. Its primary water source is purchased surface water, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2024.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
49,000
Service connections
15,744
Primary source
SWP
Purchased surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Bristol County Water Authority compare with other water systems in Bristol County?
By EPA's size categories, Bristol County Water Authority is a large system (10,001 to 100,000 people). Bristol County has 4 active public water systems, and Bristol County Water Authority is the largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 4 times the county average of 12,374 people per system, and accounts for 99% of the 49,495 people reported by systems filed under the county. Across Rhode Island, the 465 active systems average 2,508 people each. Nationally, the average active community water system reports serving 6,703 people, so Bristol County Water Authority is about 7.3 times that figure.
What does “community water system” mean?
A community water system serves at least 15 connections used by year-round residents, or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. Homes, apartments and mobile-home parks are served by these. Rhode Island has 89 active community water systems, 19% of the state's 465 active systems. Purchased surface water means the system buys surface water from another public water system rather than drawing its own. 21 Rhode Island systems (4.5%) list purchased surface water as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Bristol County Water Authority?
EPA lists Bristol County Water Authority as owned by a local government. The RI state drinking water program is its primacy agency, the regulator with primary enforcement responsibility for the system under the Safe Drinking Water Act. 1 of the 4 active systems in Bristol County (25%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Bristol County Water Authority have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2024. The violations listed here began between June 2006 and July 2024. By type: 9 monitoring and reporting, 2 disinfectant level above the legal limit and 1 contaminant level above the legal limit. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Lead and Copper Rule (2 of them). EPA lists 12 as resolved. Resolved means at least one resolving action is on record: the system returned to compliance, the rule no longer applies, or no further action was needed.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | No | Resolved |
| 2024-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | No | Resolved |
| 2017-09-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Source Water (LT2) · code 32 | E. colicode 3014 | No | Resolved |
| 2017-09-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Source Water (LT2) · code 32 | Turbiditycode 0100 | No | Resolved |
| 2017-09-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Source Water (LT2) · code 32 | Cryptosporidiumcode 3015 | No | Resolved |
| 2014-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingFollow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/R · code 52 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2010-07-01 | Disinfectant level above the legal limitAcute Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level · code 13 | Chlorine dioxidecode 1008 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2010-07-01 | Disinfectant level above the legal limitAcute Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level · code 13 | Chlorine dioxidecode 1008 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2010-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingFollow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/R · code 52 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2009-09-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Acute (TCR) · code 21 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2007-08-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Repeat Minor (TCR) · code 26 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2006-06-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Chloritecode 1009 | No | Resolved |
The 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, newest first.Labels and codes come from EPA's SDWIS reference tables. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found. "Health-based" marks violations of a legal limit or required treatment.
Bristol County Water Authority: frequently asked questions
Who runs Bristol County Water Authority?
Bristol County Water Authority (PWSID RI1647515) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the RI state drinking water program.
How many people does Bristol County Water Authority serve?
Bristol County Water Authority reports serving 49,000 people through 15,744 service connections in Bristol County, Rhode Island.
Where does Bristol County Water Authority get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as purchased surface water. Purchased surface water means the system buys surface water from another public water system rather than drawing its own.
Does Bristol County Water Authority have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2024. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found.
Is Bristol County Water Authority's water safe to drink?
AquaCensus shows EPA compliance records, not current water test results, so it cannot say whether the water is safe at a given moment. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2024. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the RI state drinking water program.
Where can I find Bristol County Water Authority's water quality report?
As a community water system, Bristol County Water Authority must deliver an annual water quality report, called a Consumer Confidence Report, to its customers by July 1 each year, covering the previous calendar year. The system can provide a copy on request.
Other water systems in Bristol County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Touisset Point Water Trust | Bristol | 225 | Community | Groundwater |
| Dawn Hill Home Rehab and Healthcare, the | Bristol | 220 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Tpe Ri Wa1 Land LLC An0 | Bristol | 50 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
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About this data
Source: U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and SDWA violation records, via EPA ECHO, as published October 1, 2026 — AquaCensus refreshes it quarterly. See the methodology for how records are matched, cleaned and scored.
Cite as: AquaCensus, “Bristol County Water Authority, PWSID RI1647515, Rhode Island”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/rhode-island/bristol-county-water-authority-ri1647515 (data as of October 1, 2026).