Office of Drinking Water Quality

Providence Water
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
August 17, 2006

Q. What is going on with Providence Water?
A. Lead has been found in some water samples at more than the allowable level.

Q. Which Communities Are Affected?
A. Providence Drinking Water supplies water to Providence, North Providence, and Cranston water districts. These are the communities impacted by today's action.

Q. Is the water safe to drink?
A. Yes. However, we recommend taking the following steps to reduce potential exposure:

• After your water has been unused for several hours (overnight, or during the day), run the water until it runs cold. This will flush out any lead that MAY be present.
  
• Never use water from the hot water tap to drink or to cook. It is likely to have more lead than water from the cold water tap. Use cold water and then heat it if you need to.
  
• There is no need to boil your water.

Q. When did the Health Department find out about this?
Providence Water alerted us on Friday August 11 that there might be a problem. Final data were available on Wednesday afternoon.

Q. Is the water safe for children and to prepare formula for babies?
A. Yes. However, we recommend taking the following steps to reduce potential exposure:

• After your water has been unused for several hours (overnight, or during the day), run the water until it runs cold. This will flush out any lead that MAY be present.
  
• Never use water from the hot water tap to drink or to cook. It is likely to have more lead than water from the cold water tap. Use cold water and then heat it if you need to.
  
• There is no need to boil your water.

Q. Should I be drinking bottled water?
A. No. Bottled water is not necessary. After your water has been unused for several hours (overnight, or during the day), run the water until it runs cold. This will flush out any lead that MAY be present.

Q. What is Providence doing about the problem?
A. Providence has been taking twice as many samples as the regulations require. They have been working to reduce the leaching of lead into tap water. One of the things they have done is to change the water so that, in the long term, lead levels at the tap will be lowered. In the short term, however, the way this process works may have contributed to the current lead levels.

Q. Should I boil my water to get rid of lead?
A. No. This will not get rid of lead. Boiling your water for a long time will concentrate lead even more.

Q. How can I get my water tested?
A. Any state-certified laboratory can test your water for lead.