Kingston Water District

The Kingston Water District is committed to delivering safe, reliable municipal water to our community. Each year, we provide residents with a comprehensive written report detailing the previous year's water quality testing results. We're pleased to confirm that your municipal water meets federal and state safety requirements.

Our district operates from three wells in the Chipuxet Subbasin. We maintain two water systems with approximately 25 miles of distribution mains, and we have interconnection capabilities with the University of Rhode Island during times of mutual need.

Contact Information:
For assistance, please reach Manager Holly Meyer at (401) 783-5494 or mail correspondence to Kingston Water District, PO Box 216, West Kingston, RI, 02892. Our office at 16 Frank Avenue (near Amtrak) welcomes visitors Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Public Meetings:
The KWD Board holds monthly public meetings on the first Wednesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. at our district office. Our Budget Hearing occurs on the first Wednesday of November, while the Annual Meeting takes place on the first Tuesday of December at a location announced well in advance.

Water Quality Monitoring:
In compliance with state and federal regulations, the District routinely tests for over 100 potential contaminants in your municipal water. The "Test Results" tables identify any detected contaminants, all of which were found to be below permitted levels. A complete list of the more than 75 contaminants tested but not detected is available at our district office.

The EPA establishes limits on contaminant levels in public water systems, while the FDA regulates bottled water. All water sources, including bottled water, may reasonably contain small amounts of some contaminants. However, this doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk. For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, call the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

Water Sources and Potential Contaminants:
Municipal water comes from various sources including rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over land or through ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material. It can also pick up substances from animal presence or human activities.

Potential contaminants include:

• Microbial contaminants from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural operations, and wildlife
• Inorganic contaminants like salts and metals from natural sources, urban runoff, industrial discharges, oil/gas production, mining, or farming
• Pesticides and herbicides from agriculture, urban runoff, and residential uses
• Organic chemicals from industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, urban runoff, and septic systems
• Radioactive contaminants occurring naturally or resulting from oil/gas production and mining

Special Health Considerations:
Some individuals may be more vulnerable to water contaminants than the general population. Those with compromised immune systems—such as cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune disorders, some elderly individuals, and infants—may face increased infection risks. These individuals should seek advice from healthcare providers regarding municipal water consumption. EPA/CDC guidelines on reducing infection risks from cryptosporidium and other microbiological contaminants are available through the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

1. How do I determine if I live in unincorporated Arapahoe County? You can verify your address through our online address lookup tool.
2. What happens to stray or injured animals collected by Animal Control? We currently partner with The Aurora Animal Shelter for sheltering and treating stray animals.
3. Who should I contact after office hours with a complaint? For non-emergency situations, leave a message on our voicemail for next business day follow-up. For emergencies, contact the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office at 720-874-4711.

Animal Control - Animal Complaints

1. How can I get a response at 3 a.m. when my neighbor's dog won't stop barking? Animal Control doesn't respond after hours as barking isn't classified as an emergency situation and requires specific procedural steps. You can contact Animal Control at 720-874-6750 anytime to leave information for follow-up during business hours.
2. My neighbor walks their dog off-leash. What actions can I take? Unincorporated Arapahoe County doesn't have a specific "leash law." However, owners must be present with their dogs and the animals must respond immediately to owner commands. Reference definition #18 and Section D of the ordinance for details.

Animal Control - Animal Complaints - Animal Bites

1. My dog was bitten by another neighborhood dog. Should I file a bite report? Bite reports aren't required for animal-on-animal incidents. However, depending on circumstances, other violations like Running at Large may apply.
2. I was bitten by my friend's dog while visiting their home. Do I need to report this? Any animal bite that breaks the skin should be reported. Quarantine procedures only apply to dogs, cats, or ferrets.
3. My neighbor's dog bit me. Why wasn't the animal immediately removed during quarantine? Why wasn't it permanently removed afterward? During the mandatory 10-day quarantine, dogs may remain with their owners at home or be quarantined offsite at the owner's discretion. Permanent removal requires a court order from a judge.

Animal Control - Animal Complaints - Barking Dogs

1. Why are two signatures from separate households required for Noisy Dog complaints when other complaints can be filed by a single household? Since barking dog complaints can potentially be used as retaliation between neighbors, having multiple households willing to sign a complaint and potentially testify adds credibility to the reported issue.

Animal Control - Animal Complaints - Dogs Running At Large

1. My neighbor walks their dog without a leash. What can I do about this? Unincorporated Arapahoe County doesn't have a designated "leash law." However, owners must remain present with their dogs, and the animals must respond immediately to commands. See definition #18 and Section D of the ordinance for specific requirements.

Animal Control - Animal Protection - Emergency Preparedness

1. I don't want to assemble a pet emergency kit myself. What other options exist? Many pet retailers and animal welfare organizations offer pre-made pet emergency kits and first aid supplies. Remember to supplement these with your pet's veterinary records and any prescription medications.

Animal Control - Lost or Found Pets

1. Do you collect stray cats? No. Arapahoe County has no regulations regarding cats, so they're permitted to roam freely.
2. What happens to stray or injured animals picked up by Animal Control? We currently contract with The Aurora Animal Shelter for sheltering and care of stray animals.

Animal Control - Pet Regulations

1. Should I license my dog with the County or the City where I reside? Do I need both? You should only obtain one license based on your jurisdiction. City or town residents license through their municipality, while unincorporated area residents license through the County.
2. Does Arapahoe County prohibit certain dog breeds? No. Counties follow state regulations on this matter, and Colorado currently has no statewide breed restrictions.

Animal Control - Pet Regulations - Dog License

1. I've owned my dog for years. Why must I license it now? Arapahoe County has required dog licensing since 1976. We use a passive enforcement system where owners are expected to know the requirements or are informed during animal control contact, rather than active door-to-door enforcement. Every dog owner is responsible for knowing applicable regulations.

Animal Control - Wildlife Issues

1. What wildlife-related services does Animal Control provide? We loan traps to unincorporated Arapahoe County residents for capturing small wildlife according to Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife guidelines. We also remove dead wildlife from public roadways and small deceased wildlife from public areas, and can relocate wildlife when necessary.