Your county health department
Rhode Island doesn't run a statewide free testing program that we know of. Some county health departments still test wells or sell kits, so call yours first.
Department of Health (RIDOH): private well testingGetting your well water tested in Rhode Island
Use a lab Rhode Island certifies, or a mail-in kit. Test for bacteria and nitrate every year, the CDC's advice for every private well.
About 378,000 people in Rhode Island get their water from a private well, about 1 in 3 residents.
Three ways to get tested, cheapest first.
A lab Rhode Island certifies
The state's list of labs certified for drinking water. Many sell bottles you pick up or get by mail, and their results count for a home sale or loan.
Labs certified by Rhode IslandA mail-in kit
Order online, fill the bottles at your kitchen tap and get results by email in about a week. Full well tests run about $210 to $220.
Compare kits for Rhode Island
Buying a house or drilling a new well in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island law requires private well water to be tested when a new well is installed and before a home with a private well is sold or transferred.
What turns up in Rhode Island wells.
Share of tested wells over the limit, from lab tests the USGS, EPA and state agencies collected since 2000. Your own well needs its own test.
Nitrate4%5 of 130Fluoride0%0 of 13
GermsTest every year, whatever the chart says
Coliform bacteria33%1 of 3StainsNot a health risk
Iron stains29%2 of 7
Rare: under 5%Worth checking: 5 to 15%Widespread: 15%+
Lab results: Water Quality Portal (USGS and EPA)
Find your county.
We don't have full county reports for Rhode Island yet. Type your county to see how many people there use wells and how deep they typically are. The statewide results above apply until then.
No full report for that county yet. The statewide results above still apply, and so do the three ways to get tested.
Every county in Rhode Island: people on wells and typical depth
| County | People on private wells | Share of residents | Typical well depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence County | 260,177 | 39% | 350 ft |
| Newport County | 37,238 | 43% | 400 ft |
| Washington County | 34,422 | 27% | 300 ft |
| Bristol County | 31,793 | 63% | – |
| Kent County | 14,373 | 8% | 300 ft |
Questions people ask about well water in Rhode Island
Does Rhode Island require private wells to be tested?
Rhode Island law requires private well water to be tested when a new well is installed and before a home with a private well is sold or transferred.
Where can I get my well water tested in Rhode Island?
Otherwise, use a lab certified by Rhode Island for drinking water. The state's list is linked on this page.
Where these numbers come from
- How many people use wells: EPA estimates from the 2020 Census.
- Lab tests: Water Quality Portal (USGS and EPA), well samples since 2000.
- State programs and links: Department of Health (RIDOH).