Reed, Whitehouse, Amo Call for Federal Assistance to Help Tiverton Families Following Forever Chemical Water Contamination

Providence, RI - Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI) called on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin to move quickly to help support Tiverton families whose private wells have been contaminated with dangerous levels of PFAS, or "forever chemicals."

In a letter to Administrator Zeldin, the lawmakers wrote:

"We are writing to alert you to an urgent public health matter affecting our constituents in Tiverton, Rhode Island, due to dangerous levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in private wells. More than half of the private wells tested to date have exceeded Rhode Island's 20 parts-per-trillion standard, and testing is still underway. With some wells registering PFAS concentrations above 4,000 parts per trillion, Tiverton families urgently need help accessing safe drinking water and determining the scope and source of this contamination."

"For these families, the harm is not abstract. They rely on private wells for the water they drink, cook with, bathe in, and use every day. Residents are relying on bottled water and emergency supplies while confronting uncertainty about whether the water in their homes is safe."

"Tiverton residents should not have to wait for the next round of testing, the next funding cycle, or another agency to determine responsibility before they can have safe water in their homes. The immediate priority of all levels of government must be to protect residents and get clean drinking water to families who need it as quickly as possible."

The full letter can be found here.

Background

Tiverton is facing elevated levels of PFAS, also known as 'forever chemicals', in private wells, threatening residents' drinking water.

More than half of the private wells tested to date have exceeded Rhode Island's 20 parts-per-trillion standard, and testing is continuing. Some wells have registered PFAS levels above 4,000 parts per trillion, more than 19,900 times the state standard.

Congressman Amo recently met with Tiverton residents and local leaders to hear directly about the impact of the contamination and discuss the federal resources needed to get families safe drinking water. He is urging the EPA to work with federal, state, and local partners to ensure Tiverton residents can access safe drinking water at home.

Residents in the affected zones, including those living in homes on Crandall Road, Bulgarmarsh Road, and Stafford Road, cited elevated PFAS levels in their private wells, reaching over 4,000 parts per trillion (ppt), more than 19,900% above the state's safety limit of 20 ppt.

Testing from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) as of September 16 shows that 87 of 157 private wells have exceeded safety limits.

Senators Reed and Whitehouse and Congressman Amo called for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to expeditiously approve federal funding for a new water line.

Tiverton residents can find resources and updates on PFAS contamination and ongoing remediation efforts here.

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