As in Rhode Island and across the nation, South Kingstown has many threats to its water supply, for drinking, recreation and fishing. The water hazards map is a good resource to find specific known areas of contamination.

On the DEM website there is information on the impaired waters (303d) and state of the state's waters (305b).

Potential threats to
South Kingstown's water (from Lyle S. Raymond, "Groundwater Contamination," Cornell University):

small disposal pits: small backyard dumps
house and garden chemicals
polluted stream infiltration: wells that pump from areas with polluted streams
de-icing salts: used in the winter for roads and walkways
landfills
storage lagoons: used by industries, farms, mining operations, oil and gas producers (may leak when there is poor maintenence, overflows, liner failure, or structural collapse)
underground storage tanks: see box on left
fertilizers: cause high nitrate levels in groundwater
pesticides
hazardous materials such as metals and chemicals due to spills and leaks (possibly from a garage, drycleaner, farm, junkyard, or industry)
transport and transfer spills
pipelines (poor maintenence)
abandoned wells: this is a significant problem in South Kingstown, where contaminants may easily enter the abandoned wells and thus enter the groundwater supply
animal lots and wild birds and animals (such as pigeons): excrement may enter water supply
urban runoff from roads

click map to enlarge [RIGIS]

This map shows the Chipuxet sub-basin along with possible threats to it. This sub-basin is overly used and has more of a quantity problem than quality. Sewered areas are also shown because they are not likely to contaminate the groundwater (no septic tanks). Useful definitions are listed to the left for contamination types

click map to enlarge [RIGIS]

This map shows land use (commercial, industrial and residential) along with wells, wellhead protection areas and surface water. There is often overlap of these areas. It is useful to note where the well heads are located near residential and commercial land. Commercial hazards to water quality include: potential leaks from industrial chemicals cerclas, or lusts. Potential hazards from residential land use include lusts and runoff.

One large threat to water quality in Washington County is erosion, which causes sedimentation in the water. South Kingstown, as other towns, has an Erosion and Sediment Control Performance Plan that must be filed by builders who want to develop within 100 feet of wetlands or water (Patricia Hickey, personal communications).

There are many sewage disposal systems in South Kingstown that could potentially threaten the water supply. Often, septic tanks are not maintained. The placement of individual sewage disposal systems (ISDS) cannot be within 150 feet of a river or body of water (Patricia Hickey).