Information For Private Well Owners

Water Testing

Groundwater quality can change, so it is important that private well owners test their water regularly. This page lists the recommended and required testing for private wells in Rhode Island. State law requires that all testing of drinking water must be performed by certified laboratories to assure the quality of the testing methods and accuracy of results. 

What you should do

Current Well Owners

Although state law does not require regular testing of private wells, the Office of Drinking water recommends testing private wells for the constituents below at prescribed intervals or when a problem is suspected (odd taste, smell, color, etc.) to ensure that water is safe to drink. Since groundwater quality changes over time, testing frequency depends on the constituent. Note that all testing must be performed by certified laboratories. Tests required for new wells and those that will be required for real estate transfers are italicized.

Potential Well Owners

State law currently requires testing of new private wells or for certification of occupancy requests. State law will be requiring testing for real estate transfers in the near future. These tests, present in the lists below in italics, are designed to protect the health of new consumers of a well source.  Additionally, they also serve as a relatively inexpensive way to protect your owner investment or reduce liability risk for rental properties. 

Initially, then annually

• Coliform Bacteria
• Nitrate / Nitrite (especially in case of newborns or pregnancy)
• Color
• Turbidity
• Sodium
• Chloride

Initially, then every 3 to 5 years

• Fluoride
• Iron
• Lead
• Manganese
• Copper (for copper plumbing)
• Zinc and Cadmium (for galvanized plumbing)
• Sulfate
• pH
• Tests for Corrosiveness
  • Alkalinity
  • Calcium
  • Total Dissolved Solids
  • Hardness
  • Specific Conductance

Initially, then every 5-10 years

• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
• Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH)
• MTBE

Additional testing may depend on

• local land-uses
• well type
• underlying geology
• proximity to known sources of contaminants
• requirement by the local building official

Examples

• Arsenic tests for wells near existing or old orchards
• Beryllium test for wells in certain types of bedrock