Filtration and Treatment of Private Well Water

How to Know if You Need to Treat Your Well Water

Before you install any treatment or filtration system, test your water at a certified laboratory. You need to know exactly what is in your water and how much of it there is so you can treat it correctly and safely.

There is no 'one-size-fits-all' system that works for every problem, and if you use the wrong treatment or filtration system, it may cause other problems. Never install a treatment system without testing at a certified laboratory first. 

See our Test Before You Treat flyer.

If you have questions about treatment systems, contact RIDOH’s Private Wells Program or URI’s Water Quality Program.

How to Choose a System

There are a lot of choices for homeowners. Prices and complexity of a system can vary a lot. If you’re not sure what type is best for your well, contact RIDOH’s Private Wells Program or URI’s Water Quality Program for help.

The Tip Sheets for each water issue also list different treatment options, and many of those have their own sheets that explain more about what they do. The Treatment Shopping Tip Sheet lists important questions to ask yourself and any company or professional that sells treatment systems. When you are looking for a place to buy a treatment system, look for certain logos (like NSF or WQA stamps) that show a product has been tested and certified to do what it promises.

Keeping informed, asking questions, and getting multiple quotes are all part of being a smart consumer and protecting your water.

See our Choosing Treatment For Your Private Well flyer.