Private Well Testing

Did you know that the Rhode Island Department of Health recently developed and passed into law new regulations that require Private Drinking Water Systems to be tested?

RI Regulation R-23-1-5.3-PDW (PDF) (Rules and Regulations Pertaining to Private Drinking Water Systems) was promulgated in June 2008. The requirement for new construction reporting takes effect 3 months after promulgation and 6 months after promulgation for property transfers. These new regulations "apply to any and all water-well systems that do not meet the definition of public water supply as defined by the Rules and Regulations Pertaining to Public Drinking Water [R46-13-DWQ]…"

Private Water Systems covered by this new regulation:
  • Commercial/Mixed Use Water Systems
  • Multi Family/Shared Well Water Systems
  • Single/Duplex Residence Water Systems
  • Individual Water Systems
Water Quality Analyses are required for the following circumstances:
  • Before a certificate of occupancy is issued for a construction
  • Prior to any sale or transfer of ownership of real estate
  • Whenever a new well/well field is installed for an existing building
What are you required to analyze for?
  • Total Coliform
  • Alkalinity
  • Hardness
  • Chloride
  • Fluoride
  • Iron
  • Lead
  • Manganese
  • Nitrate/Nitrite
  • pH
  • Specific Conductance
  • Sulfate
  • TDS
  • Turbidity
  • VOC (w/MTBE)

BAL Laboratory is proud to have quality trained samplers on staff. From sample collection to analysis to helping you understand your results, we can assist you with your private well testing needs.

Click on the situations below for our recommendations:

Test for pH, alkalinity, hardness, lead, copper, iron, and manganese.
Test for pH, alkalinity, hardness, lead, copper, iron and manganese, zinc, and cadmium.
Test for coliform bacteria, nitrate, and sulfate. Test for copper if blue-green staining is seen around fixtures.
Test for hydrogen sulfide, pH, alkalinity, hardness, copper, lead, iron, zinc, cadmium, sodium, chloride, and total dissolved solids (TDS).
Test for coliform, nitrate, hydrogen sulfide, sulfates, and total dissolved solids(TDS). Test for volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Test for color, turbidity and detergents.
Test for sodium, chloride, total dissolved solids (TDS,) and specific conductance.
Test for pesticides commonly applied in the area, coliform, nitrate, pH, and total dissolved solids (TDS).
Test for gasoline components, such as MTBE and volatile organic compounds (VOCs- Aromatic Hydrocarbons).
Test for total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Test for chlorinated volatile organic compounds (VOCs-Halogenated Hydrocarbons) and heavy metals.
Test for volatile organic compounds (VOCs), pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), chloride, sulfate, and heavy metals.
Test for coliforms, nitrates, nitrites, sodium, turbidity, and color.

BAL Laboratory is proud to have quality trained samplers on staff. From sample collection to analysis to helping you understand your results, we can assist you with your private well testing needs.

Please contact the Laboratory at (401) 785-0241 for testing and/or package information.  Our Staff is here to help you.

RI DOH Real Estate/New Well

This package is REQUIRED for any real estate transaction in the State of Rhode Island that involves a home with a well. The lending bank has the right to refuse a closing if this is not completed prior to a sale or transfer of deed or other real estate transaction. It is also required if a new well is to be brought online either for a new home or an existing home. This package will provide a good basis of the water chemistry for the well. It will also give you the information you will need if you want to look into a home treatment system.

RI DOH Real Estate/New Well Sampling Instructions

Total Coliform Alkalinity Hardness
Chloride Fluoride Iron
Lead Manganese Nitrate/Nitrite
pH Specific Conductance Sulfate
TDS Turbidity VOC (w/MTBE)
Total Coliform Alkalinity Hardness Chloride Fluoride
Iron Lead Manganese Nitrate/Nitrite pH
Specific Conductance Sulfate TDS Tubidity VOC (w/MTBE)
Color Sodium Copper Zinc Cadmium
Arsenic Beryllium Calcium First Draw Lead and Copper Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons

Initial Comprehensive Test

This package offers a very detailed report of what your water may have in it. If you have never had your water tested this may be the package for you. If your well is located near any sort of abandoned industrial site, this is the package for you.

Initial Comprehensive Test Sampling Instructions

Routine Sanitary Survey

This package is recommended annually. Monitoring your well on an annual basis can alert you to changes in your well over time. If you test annually and any of the analyses listed change dramatically, you may be able to head off bigger problems in your well.

Routine Sanitary Survey Sampling Instructions

Total Coliform Nitrate/Nitrite Color
Turbidity Sodium Chloride
Total Coliform Nitrate Nitrite
Color Turbidity Manganese
Sodium Sulfate Chloride
pH Specific Conductivity Copper
Iron Lead Hardness

Basic

This package is recommended every 3-5 years. Water chemistry can change over time so we recommend testing your well in order to see if things are the same or if things are changing in your well. If you have a treatment stream we recommend that you test both the well water and your treated water in order to ensure that your treatment process is performing at its best.

Basic Package Sampling Instructions

Additional Links

Department of Health – Private Wells

EPA's Safewater web site has information for private well owners

The RI Home*A*Syst program provides lots of helpful information for suburban and rural homeowners who desire a healthy home environment.