Little Compton School District Awarded $55K Grant To Improve Water Quality

LITTLE COMPTON, RI — The Little Compton School District's water system was one of three public water systems to get grant funding from the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH).

The RIDOH Center for Drinking Water Quality and Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank awarded the grants to disadvantaged or small communities (serving less than 10,000 people) to address emerging contaminants in drinking water.

Little Compton Public Schools received $55,000 to address PFOA in water at the Wilbur and McMahon Schools. PFOA is a type of PFAS chemical. Test results showed drinking water at the school had levels of PFOA that were greater than the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) maximum contaminant level.

"This funding makes critical resources available to small public water systems in Rhode Island for specific projects to improve local drinking water infrastructure, the quality of the drinking water they provide, and protect public health," state Director of Health Jerry Larkin said. "We are pleased to announce the award of this funding with our partners at the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank."

When a person is exposed to PFAS, they can build up in the body. The amount of PFAS in the body can increase to the point where it can harm health.

Studies have shown that elevated levels of certain PFAS can cause negative health effects, including higher cholesterol levels, lower infant birth weights, weakened immune response, and increased risk of some cancers, including kidney cancer. Infants and young children with developing immune systems; people who are breastfeeding, pregnant, or who may become pregnant; and people with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk.

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