With leadership from Clean Water Action Rhode Island, the state has adopted numerous policies and regulations to stop the use of toxic chemicals as well as establishing drinking water standards for a number of contaminants, including PFAS. Rhode Island advocates are prioritizing strategies that address environmental disparities in vulnerable communities and eliminate toxic chemicals at the source.
One of the most significant incidents occurred at the former Naval Air Station in Quonset Point, where firefighting foam containing PFAS was used for decades. The contamination was discovered in 2014, and subsequent testing found elevated levels of PFAS in the groundwater and soil at the site, as well as in nearby private wells.
