Public water system · RI1592022
ActivePortsmouth Water & Fire District
At a glance
Portsmouth Water & Fire District (PWSID RI1592022) is an active community water system in Newport County, Rhode Island. It reports serving 17,090 people through 6,893 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, 8 are health-based, and the most recent began in April 2023.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
17,090
Service connections
6,893
Primary source
SWP
Purchased surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Portsmouth Water & Fire District compare with other water systems in Newport County?
By EPA's size categories, Portsmouth Water & Fire District is a large system (10,001 to 100,000 people). Newport County has 47 active public water systems, and Portsmouth Water & Fire District is the 2nd-largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 8.5 times the county average of 2,018 people per system, and accounts for 18% of the 94,859 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 Portsmouth Water & Fire District is about 155% above 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 Portsmouth Water & Fire District?
EPA lists Portsmouth Water & Fire District 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. 7 of the 47 active systems in Newport County (15%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Portsmouth Water & Fire District have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 8 are health-based, and the most recent began in April 2023. The violations listed here began between April 1994 and April 2023. By type: 8 contaminant level above the legal limit, 3 monitoring and reporting and 1 reporting. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total trihalomethanes (TTHM) (8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-04-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2023-01-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2022-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2016-09-13 | ReportingReport Sample Result/Fail Monitor (RTCR) · code 4B | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | No | Resolved |
| 2016-08-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring of Treatment (SWTR-Filter) · code 36 | Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0200 | No | Resolved |
| 2014-07-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2013-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | No | Resolved |
| 2013-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | No | Resolved |
| 2002-07-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2002-04-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2002-01-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1994-04-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | 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.
Portsmouth Water & Fire District: frequently asked questions
Who runs Portsmouth Water & Fire District?
Portsmouth Water & Fire District (PWSID RI1592022) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the RI state drinking water program.
How many people does Portsmouth Water & Fire District serve?
Portsmouth Water & Fire District reports serving 17,090 people through 6,893 service connections in Newport County, Rhode Island.
Where does Portsmouth Water & Fire District 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 Portsmouth Water & Fire District have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 8 are health-based, and the most recent began in April 2023. 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 Portsmouth Water & Fire District'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, 8 are health-based, and the most recent began in April 2023. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the RI state drinking water program.
Where can I find Portsmouth Water & Fire District's water quality report?
As a community water system, Portsmouth Water & Fire District 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 Newport County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newport-City of | Newport | 42,155 | Community | Surface water |
| North Tiverton Fire District | Newport | 8,969 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Naval Station, Newport | Newport | 7,870 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Jamestown Water Department | Newport | 3,348 | Community | Surface water |
| Tiverton Water Authority, Town Hall | Newport | 3,213 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Stone Bridge Fire District | Newport | 2,793 | Community | Surface water |
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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, “Portsmouth Water & Fire District, PWSID RI1592022, Rhode Island”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/rhode-island/portsmouth-water-fire-district-ri1592022 (data as of October 1, 2026).