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Overview

Mission

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Staff & Counsel

Locations
WRB Meeting Info

Water Supply Systems Management
  –  Drought Management

Water Facilities

Water Allocation
  –  WAPAC

Public Drinking Water Protection

Management Information Systems

Big River Management Area

Pump Center Investigations & Groundwater Resources Protection

Business Management

Education and Outreach

USGS Cooperative Program
For Kids

For Everyone

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this DEM?

No. The RI Water Resources Board is often confused with the RI Dept. of Environmental Management (DEM) Office of Water Resources at 222-3961. The WRB is primarily involved with water supply and use issues; DEM-OWR is primarily involved with (raw) water quality and permitting.

Is this the Providence Water Supply Board?

No. The Providence Water Supply Board is a public utility which provides water to approximately 60% of the state's residents. The PWSB can be reached at www.provwater.com or 521-6300.

I have a question on my water bill.

The Water Resources Board does not bill individuals for water directly, though major water suppliers charge water users a fee which goes into the Public Drinking Water Protection Fund. This money is used for certain water system infrastructure upgrades and/or purchase of watershed protection lands.

For billing questions, please contact your town or city water supply district

Are all public water suppliers regulated by the Public Utilities Commission?

No. Those that are sell water outside their district and include Kent County Water Authority, Newport Water Dept., Pawtucket Water Supply Board, Providence Water Supply Board, United Water Co. and Woonsocket Water Dept.

Can I get my drinking water tested here?

No. That service is provided by the RI Dept. of Health (DOH) which oversees the quality of the public drinking water supply. Call the DOH laboratory at 222-5549 to learn more about well water testing, or contact Laboratories Licensed by the Rhode Island Department of Health directly. A standard "sanitary survey" costs $79 which includes the test kit materials.

* Testing of drinking water from public water systems is not generally necessary; if you have a question, contact your town or city water supply district. Supplier List

Is fluoride in my water?

Generally, most public water suppliers add fluoride to the drinking water supply, prior to distribution. To be sure, please contact your municipal water supply district.

Where can I find private well drilling records?

Good question and it depends. In Rhode Island, licensed well drillers are required to submit Well Completion Reports to the RI Dept. of Environmental Management, Office of Water Resources at 222-3961. Copies of the 5-part form are distributed to the RI Dept. of Health, the US Geological Survey-RI Office, the well owner and the well driller. Between the years 1979-1988, the Water Resources Board maintained those records which have since been turned over to DEM.

Where can I find a list of well drillers?

The RI Dept. of Environmental Management, Office of Water Resources, maintains a list of registered well drillers and pump installers

Where can I go to find information on well maintenance?

For well and/or wellhead protection information, contact RI Dept. of Environmental Management, Office of Water Resources at 222-3961 or the University of Rhode Island Cooperative Extension, RI Home "A" Syst program at 874-5398. The New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission is another source of general information; the organization publishes a seasonal newsletter called Water Connection.

Where can I learn more about the science of water?

Try the US Geological Survey at 331-9050.

Where can I find out what is going on my local watershed?

In a couple of places. Try RI Dept. of Environmental Management, Office of Water Resources at 222-3961, RI Dept. of Health, Office of Drinking Water Quality at 222-6867 and the US EPA Surf Your Watershed web site.

What kinds of activities are allowed in the Big River Management Area?

The BRMA is officially designated as Open Space. It is not a recreation area, though some forms of passive recreation are allowed. A land use study completed in 1996 (PDF) delineates allowable activities.

How many public water suppliers are there in Rhode Island?

There are 484 public water suppliers in Rhode Island, of which approximately 30 are major suppliers.

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