Rhode Island Private Wells
Private wells are individual water supplies. The homeowner is responsible for testing and maintaining the water supply. In Rhode Island, many private wells draw from fractured bedrock, while sand-and-gravel aquifers are important in other areas.
Common Well-Water Conditions
What you may notice
- Orange or brown iron staining
- Black manganese staining
- Rotten-egg sulfur odor
- White scale or hardness
- Blue-green corrosion staining
- Sand, silt or sediment
What you may not notice
Bacteria, nitrate, arsenic, PFAS and other substances may require laboratory testing because they cannot reliably be identified by sight, smell or taste.
Test Before You Treat
RIDOH advises homeowners to use a certified laboratory before installing treatment. Correct treatment depends on what is present, how much is present, pH and other water chemistry, household demand and the objective of treatment.
Colonial can collect water samples and work with a certified laboratory when laboratory analysis is appropriate.
Private Well Water Evaluation — $39.95
The evaluation includes on-site water-quality screening, inspection of existing treatment equipment, inspection of the well pressure tank and tank-associated components, review of your water-quality observations, and a completed inspection report.
See What's Included →Treatment Options
Depending on the water and test results, treatment may include water softening, acid neutralization, iron/manganese treatment, oxidation/filtration, activated carbon, sediment filtration, ultraviolet treatment, reverse osmosis or contaminant-specific treatment.