About the Program
The Newport Water Division (NWD) is committed to providing safe, clean, and reliable drinking water to every customer. Our water consistently meets or exceeds all state and federal standards, and we continuously monitor the system to ensure top-quality water reaches your tap.
Like many other aging cities and water systems, the water distribution system consists of older houses and buildings constructed before 1987, which can have lead service lines (LSLs), fixtures, and solder. While the water leaving our treatment plant is lead-free, lead can enter the water through corrosion in LSLs.
To minimize this risk, NWD uses proven corrosion control treatment methods in accordance with EPA guidelines. You can learn more about how lead can enter drinking water by watching this American Water Works Association video.
Although most lead exposure comes from paint, dust, and soil, the EPA estimates that 10–20% of a person’s exposure may come from drinking water. This is particularly concerning for infants and young children, who absorb lead more easily than adults.
To protect public health and meet new federal and state requirements, NWD has implemented the Lead Service Line Management Program, which will identify and verify the material of every service line in Newport to inform replacement efforts.
What nwd is doing
As part of our commitment to reducing lead exposure, NWD is actively working on the following:
Your participation is essential to the success of this program. By checking and reporting the material of your service line NWD can better plan future service line replacement projects.
How to Check Your Service Line
NWD has created an interactive map where you can look up your address and see known or unknown service line materials on both the public (city-owned) and private (property-owned) sides. They are not always the same material. If you received two letters indicating different types of service line material, we encourage you to check our mapping system which will allow you to see the service line material on both the private side and the public side. Materials of service lines are categorized as known and unknown:
Known service lines are labeled as:
- Lead
- Not Lead
Unknown service lines are labeled as:
- Likely Lead
- Unlikely Lead
- Unknown
If your line is listed as “Likely Lead” or “Unlikely Lead,” further verification is needed. You can easily check your line using a Material Verification Test at home.
Water Distribution System Pipes
Use the search feature in the top left corner to lookup your address in the Newport Water Division
If your address has an unknown material, you can determine if you have a copper, lead, galvanized steel, or plastic line service on your property, by performing a simple Material Verification Test on the water service line where it connects to the water meter. We encourage long-term renters and owners to participate in checking and reporting their service line material. This simple test requires only a coin, house key, or flathead screwdriver, and a magnet. Once you have your results (even if you are unable to determine the material), please report your findings, address, and a photo of your service line using our online survey which is also linked in the Service Link Material Map.
Possible results may include:
Next Steps
After you submit your information, NWD staff will review your report:
- If the material can’t be confirmed, we will schedule a site inspection.
- If your service line is confirmed to contain lead, you’ll receive a LIFESTRAW® water filter pitcher (with extra filters for six months of use) and educational materials on minimizing exposure.
If you the material of your service line is unknown and you do not elect to take the survey, call 401-845-5600 or email LeadInfo@NewportRI.gov to request an inspection.
Please note: due to high inquiry volumes, response times may vary.
Tips to Reduce Lead Exposure
Follow these EPA-recommended steps if your home may have lead service lines:
Run your water to flush out lead
If water hasn’t been used for over six hours, run water from your kitchen tap or whatever tap you use for drinking and cooking at a moderate rate for 3 to 5 minutes until it becomes cold or reaches a steady temperature before drinking or cooking. This process will help flush lead-containing water from the pipes. To conserve water, you can fill multiple containers after flushing for drinking, cooking, and preparing baby formula.
Pregnant women, breastfeeding women, young children, and formula-fed infants
should use bottled drinking water at homes where lead has been detected at levels greater than 15 ppb.
Use cold water for drinking, cooking, and preparing baby formula
Do not cook with or drink hot water from the tap; lead dissolves more easily into hot water
Do not use water from the hot water tap to make baby formula.
Do not boil water to remove lead
Boiling water will not reduce lead.
Look for alternative sources or treatment of water
Consider purchasing bottled water or additional filters. Visit the NSF website to view certified product listings for lead reduction and information on production standards. You can also contact NSF via email (info@nsf.org) or phone (800-673-8010).
Install lead-free faucets and fixtures
Look for lead certification marks indicating the new product is lead-free, then replace all old faucets and fixtures. This EPA document will help you know what to look for.
Clean your faucet aerators
Sediment, rust, and metals, including lead, may collect in the aerator screen located at the tip of your faucets. These screens should be removed and cleaned regularly. For more details, view this document.
Test your child’s blood lead level
If you are concerned about exposure, contact your child’s healthcare provider or the Rhode Island Department of Health information line (401-222-5960) to find out how to get your child tested for lead.
Additional Information Resources
- EPA: Revised Lead and Copper Rule
- his website explains the recent revisions made to the Lead and Copper Rule.
- RIDOH: Lead Poisoning Prevention Act
- This website details amendments to the act and the additional requirements.
- EPA: Protect Your Tap: A Quick Check for Lead
- This website details how to determine the material of your service line. Directions are also available in Spanish and Portuguese.
- EPA: Lead in Drinking Water
- This EPA infographic explains the sources of lead in drinking water and offers practical advice on reducing exposure and replacing service lines.
- CDC: Preventing Childhood Lead Poisoning
- This website from the CDC is a comprehensive guide to preventing childhood lead poisoning, covering all potential sources of lead exposure and levels of prevention.
- Lead Service Line Replacement Collaborative: Lead In Water and Full Lead Service Line Replacement
If you have further questions regarding lead in your drinking water, contact us at (401) 845-5600 or LeadInfo@NewportRI.gov.
If you have further questions regarding these new regulations, you can contact the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH), Center for Drinking Water Quality at (401) 222-6867 or DOH.RIDWQ@health.ri.gov.