We read 20 results from Town of Cumberland’s 2024 water quality report. No results over a legal limit; 3 above a health goal or guideline.
Serves about 21,235 people · Water system ID RI1647530 · Read the district’s 2024 report (opens in a new tab)
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Results from the 2024 report
Each number is copied from the district’s report and links to the page it’s printed on. Where the report lists several plants, wells or purchased water, the highest is shown.
| Contaminant | Result | Health goal | Legal limit | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead90th percentile of homes tested, 0 over the action level · Customer taps · 2024 report, page 5 | 1.1 ppb | 0.2 ppb | 15 ppb (action level) | Above the health goal5.5x the health goal |
| PFOA (a PFAS)highest measured · range 3.81 to 7.54 · Cumberland wells · 2024 report, page 5 | 7.54 ppt | 0.007 ppt | 20 ppt (Rhode Island) now; 4 ppt from 2029 | Above the federal limit that takes effect in 20291.9x the 4 ppt federal limit that takes effect in 2029; below the 20 ppt Rhode Island limit (for the sum of 6 PFAS)Not a violation yet: EPA's 4 ppt limit is final, but water systems don't have to meet it until 2029. |
| PFOS (a PFAS)highest measured · range 4.25 to 6.84 · Cumberland wells · 2024 report, page 5 | 6.84 ppt | 1 ppt | 20 ppt (Rhode Island) now; 4 ppt from 2029 | Above the federal limit that takes effect in 20291.7x the 4 ppt federal limit that takes effect in 2029; below the 20 ppt Rhode Island limit (for the sum of 6 PFAS)Not a violation yet: EPA's 4 ppt limit is final, but water systems don't have to meet it until 2029. |
| Bariumhighest measured · range ND to 0.13 · sampled 2023 · Cumberland wells / treated water · 2024 report, page 5 | 0.13 ppm | 2 ppm | 2 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Chlorinehighest measured · range 0.02 to 1.01 · Distribution system · 2024 report, page 5 | 1.01 ppm | None set | 4 ppm | Below the legal limit |
| Chromium (total)highest measured · range ND to 2 · sampled 2023 · Cumberland wells / treated water · 2024 report, page 5 | 2 ppb | None set | 100 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Copper90th percentile of homes tested, 0 over the action level · Customer taps · 2024 report, page 5 | 0.13 ppm | 0.3 ppm | 1.3 ppm (action level) | Below the health goal |
| Disinfection byproducts (HAA5)highest running annual average · range ND to 17.6 · Distribution system · 2024 report, page 5 | 10.8 ppb | None set | 60 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (TTHM)highest running annual average · range ND to 52.2 · Distribution system · 2024 report, page 5 | 40.8 ppb | None set | 80 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Fluoridehighest measured · range 0.41 to 0.98 · Cumberland wells / treated water · 2024 report, page 5 | 0.98 ppm | 1 ppm | 4 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Nitrate (as N)highest measured · range 0.82 to 3.17 · Cumberland wells / treated water · 2024 report, page 5 | 3.17 ppm | 10 ppm | 10 ppm | Below the health goal |
| PFHxS (a PFAS)highest measured · range 1.88 to 5.98 · Cumberland wells · 2024 report, page 5 | 5.98 ppt | None set | 20 ppt (Rhode Island) now; 10 ppt from 2029 | Below the legal limit |
| PFNA (a PFAS)highest measured · range 1.14 to 2.27 · Cumberland wells · 2024 report, page 5 | 2.27 ppt | None set | 20 ppt (Rhode Island) now; 10 ppt from 2029 | Below the legal limit |
| Nickelhighest measured · range ND to 14 · sampled 2023 · Cumberland wells / treated water · 2024 report, page 5 | 14 ppb | None set | None | No health limit |
| PFBA (a PFAS)highest measured · range 2.49 to 5.93 · Cumberland wells · 2024 report, page 5 | 5.93 ppt | None set | None | No health limit |
| PFBS (a PFAS)highest measured · range 4.17 to 24.1 · Cumberland wells · 2024 report, page 5 | 24.1 ppt | None set | None | No health limit |
| PFHpA (a PFAS)highest measured · range 1.32 to 3.47 · Cumberland wells · 2024 report, page 5 | 3.47 ppt | None set | None | No health limit |
| PFHxA (a PFAS)highest measured · range 2 to 7.35 · Cumberland wells · 2024 report, page 5 | 7.35 ppt | None set | None | No health limit |
| PFPeA (a PFAS)highest measured · range 2.8 to 9.01 · Cumberland wells · 2024 report, page 5 | 9.01 ppt | None set | None | No health limit |
| Sodiumhighest measured · range 24.1 to 60.8 · Cumberland wells / treated water · 2024 report, page 5 | 60.8 ppm | None set | None | No health limit |
Utility results describe the whole system, measured where water enters the pipes, not your tap. Your home’s plumbing can add lead or copper.
EPA testing for PFAS and lithium
EPA’s own nationwide testing (UCMR 5) found these in Town of Cumberland’s water between May 2024 and Feb 2025. These are EPA lab results, separate from the district’s report. Anything not listed was not detected.
- PFOA7.7 pptFound in 6 of 12 samples · highest resultAbove the federal limit that takes effect in 2029 (4 ppt)
- PFOS6.7 pptFound in 4 of 12 samples · highest resultAbove the federal limit that takes effect in 2029 (4 ppt)
- PFBS4.5 pptFound in 4 of 12 samples · highest resultNo federal limit in force for this one
Source: EPA UCMR 5 occurrence data. The highest single result is shown; one high sample doesn’t mean every glass is that high.
What you can do
Nothing here is an emergency notice: if the district has a violation, it must tell customers directly. If you’d like to lower these at your tap, these are the treatments that remove them, and the catalog shows the models certified for each. Ranking is by certified removal; commissions never change the order.
Lead
Found: Lead
What removes it: Certified carbon block or RO.
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
Found: PFOA (a PFAS), PFOS (a PFAS), PFOA (EPA testing), PFOS (EPA testing)
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
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