Is there PFAS in Westerly Water Department water?
Yes. EPA's final UCMR 5 results show Westerly Water Department averaged 7.5 ppt of PFOA at its worst sampling point, 1.9 times the EPA limit of 4 ppt.
Westerly Water Department
Serves 35,298 people · 14 PFOA samples from 7 sampling points · May 2025 to Sep 2025
Average above an EPA limit
PFOA Perfluorooctanoic acid
7.5 ppt avg · max 9.0
PFOS Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid
6.0 ppt avg · max 7.0
Hazard index GenX, PFBS, PFNA, PFHxS combined
not detected
Also detected, no federal limit: PFBA, PFPeA, PFHxA, PFHpA, PFBS.
Westerly Water Department is a public water system drawing on groundwater, based in Westerly, Rhode Island, serving about 35,298 people, including Bradford, Westerly, Pawcatuck. Under EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule it was tested for 29 PFAS and lithium 14 times across 7 sampling points between May 2025 and Sep 2025.
Every PFAS detected
Not detected: 4:2 FTS, PFTA, PFTrDA, NMeFOSAA, NEtFOSAA, 6:2 FTS, PFDA, PFNA, PFHxS, PFUnA, PFHpS, PFPeS, PFEESA, HFPO-DA, ADONA, 9Cl-PF3ONS, 11Cl-PF3OUdS, PFDoA, PFMBA, PFMPA, 8:2 FTS, NFDHA.
Lithium, tested in the same program: not detected.
What the EPA limits mean here
In April 2024 EPA set enforceable limits of 4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS, 10 ppt each for PFHxS, PFNA and GenX, and a hazard index of 1 for mixtures. Utilities were given until 2029 to comply. In May 2026 EPA proposed keeping only the PFOA and PFOS limits and moving that deadline to 2031. Until that proposal is final, the 2024 limits stand.
Compliance is judged on a running annual average at each entry point, so we show the average at this system's worst sampling point next to its single highest result. UCMR 5 results do not by themselves put a utility in or out of compliance.
What you can do at home
Two routes work for PFAS. For drinking and cooking water only, a reverse osmosis system certified to NSF/ANSI 58 with a PFOA/PFOS reduction claim is the cheapest proven option. To treat every tap and shower, a whole-house carbon system with enough contact time works, but check that the maker has PFAS test data, not just a marketing claim. See the best filters for PFAS and how PFAS removal works.
Other systems in Rhode Island
All 29 tested systems in Rhode Island
ZIP codes served
02808 02891 06379
As reported by the utility to EPA. Neighbouring ZIPs are often split between systems; your water bill names yours.
Cite this page
Well & Tap. "PFAS in Westerly Water Department water: EPA UCMR 5 results." Data: U.S. EPA Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, final release August 2026, PWSID RI1559512. https://wellandtap.com/pfas/rhode-island/westerly-water-department/
About this data
Source: U.S. EPA, UCMR 5 occurrence data, final release August 2026 (PWSID RI1559512). Population: EPA SDWIS. Averages count results below the reporting level as zero, the same convention EPA uses for running annual averages. Full method.
