Public water system · RI1559511
ActiveKent County Water Authority
At a glance
Kent County Water Authority (PWSID RI1559511) is an active community water system in Kent County, Rhode Island. It reports serving 94,107 people through 27,583 service connections. Its primary water source is purchased surface water, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. EPA's records list 7 violations for this system; 1 is health-based, and the most recent began in December 2019.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
94,107
Service connections
27,583
Primary source
SWP
Purchased surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Kent County Water Authority compare with other water systems in Kent County?
By EPA's size categories, Kent County Water Authority is a large system (10,001 to 100,000 people). Kent County has 42 active public water systems, and Kent County Water Authority is the largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 21 times the county average of 4,433 people per system, and accounts for 51% of the 186,201 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 Kent County Water Authority is about 14 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 Kent County Water Authority?
EPA lists Kent 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. 11 of the 42 active systems in Kent County (26%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Kent County Water Authority have drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 7 violations for this system; 1 is health-based, and the most recent began in December 2019. The violations listed here began between January 1992 and December 2019. By type: 5 monitoring and reporting, 1 contaminant level above the legal limit and 1 public notice, recordkeeping or other. The contaminant or rule involved most often is E. coli (2 of them). EPA lists 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-12-11 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Source Water (GWR) · code 34 | E. colicode 3014 | No | Resolved |
| 2019-11-05 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Source Water (GWR) · code 34 | E. colicode 3014 | No | Resolved |
| 2013-09-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Acute (TCR) · code 21 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2011-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Nitratecode 1040 | No | Resolved |
| 2011-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalatecode 2039 | No | Resolved |
| 2002-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Inadequate Reporting · code 72 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 1992-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingWater Quality Parameter M/R · code 53 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
All 7 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.
Kent County Water Authority: frequently asked questions
Who runs Kent County Water Authority?
Kent County Water Authority (PWSID RI1559511) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the RI state drinking water program.
How many people does Kent County Water Authority serve?
Kent County Water Authority reports serving 94,107 people through 27,583 service connections in Kent County, Rhode Island.
Where does Kent 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 Kent County Water Authority have any drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 7 violations for this system; 1 is health-based, and the most recent began in December 2019. 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 Kent 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. EPA's records list 7 violations for this system; 1 is health-based, and the most recent began in December 2019. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the RI state drinking water program.
Where can I find Kent County Water Authority's water quality report?
As a community water system, Kent 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 Kent County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warwick-City of | Kent | 73,289 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Cne - New London Turnpike Entry Point | Kent | 9,999 | Community | Purchased groundwater |
| Warwick-Potowomut | Kent | 2,163 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Exeter-W.Greenwich Jr/Sr High School | Kent | 906 | Non-transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Washington Oak Elementary School | Kent | 660 | Non-transient non-community | Purchased groundwater |
| Westwood Ymca | Kent | 610 | 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, “Kent County Water Authority, PWSID RI1559511, Rhode Island”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/rhode-island/kent-county-water-authority-ri1559511 (data as of October 1, 2026).