A Water Supply Commission for the Town of Smithfield was authorized and established by Chapter 1676, 1930 Public Laws of Rhode Island, charged with the responsibility to make “an accurate and comprehensive study of the water supply of the Town of Smithfield”. Subsequent legislation delineated the service area of the Smithfield Water Supply Board (SWSB).

In 1963-64, the Longview Pump Station (fed by the Providence Water Supply Board), and a twelve-inch diameter cast iron transmission line in Smithfield Road (N. Providence) was constructed. This transmission line traverses along Ridge Road (Smithfield) to the Rocky Hill one million gallon storage tank. In addition to the Rocky Hill Storage Tank, the Island Woods four million gallon storage tank was put into service in 1993. As part of the US EPA Superfund project, completed in 1997, there exists an additional 20,000 feet of twelve-inch transmission line in Log Road and adjacent roadways, along with a 300,000 gallon storage tank on Burlingame Road. Also, this project included the construction of two new booster pumping stations (Limerock Rd., Log Rd.) and appurtenances as well as the complete retrofitting of the existing Longview Pump Station.

Today, the SWSB includes approximately two hundred fifteen thousand feet (41 miles) of transmission and distribution water mains of varying materials and sizes.

As of 2019, the SWSB serves 1,416 residential meters, 129 commercial meters and 40 industrial meters, and has an approximate capacity of 1.8 million gallons per day. Of this, North Providence has 473 meters, 70 of which serve 1,083 apartments, and consume approximately 220,000 gallons per day. The 40 industrial meters, billed monthly, consume approximately 321,000 gallons per day. The SWSB also provides at a wholesale rate, to the Providence Water Supply Board, 27,000 gallons per day on average to the East Smithfield area of town.

In October 2017, the Smithfield Town Council passed Ordinance Number 2017-07. This Ordinance created the Smithfield Water Supply Board Advisory Commission, a five-member volunteer body that analyzes and advises the Water Supply Board on policy and on major operating and investment issues. These issues include the rates and regulations contained herein.

As of 2019, on a peak demand summer day, the over-all system operates at 79% of capacity.