What's Going On With Your Water?
Start with what you notice, then investigate the cause. A stain, odor or taste can provide a clue, but testing may be needed before treatment is selected.
Hard Water & Scale
Hard water contains dissolved calcium and magnesium. Common signs include white scale, spotted glassware, soap-performance problems and buildup in water-heating equipment.
Explore →Iron & Rust-Colored Water
Iron can occur naturally in Rhode Island groundwater and may produce orange, red or brown staining, deposits, metallic taste or laundry staining.
Explore →Manganese & Black Staining
Manganese may create black, gray or dark staining and residue. Rhode Island is actively studying manganese management in public systems and private wells.
Explore →Why Does My Water Smell Like Rotten Eggs?
A rotten-egg odor is commonly associated with hydrogen sulfide or related sulfur conditions, but the source can be the well, plumbing or water heater.
Explore →Acidic Water & Low pH
Low-pH or corrosive water can be hard on plumbing and may contribute to blue-green staining, metallic taste or plumbing deterioration.
Explore →Sand, Silt & Sediment in Household Water
Visible grit, cloudiness or particles can come from a well, plumbing work, distribution conditions or other sources.
Explore →Chlorine Taste or Odor in Public Water
Public water systems use disinfection to protect water as it moves through distribution. Some homeowners simply prefer less noticeable chlorine taste or odor.
Explore →Water Taste & Odor Problems
Water can look clear and still have an objectionable taste or odor. The source may be groundwater chemistry, public-water disinfection, plumbing, a water heater, existing treatment equipment or multiple conditions.
Explore →Lead in Household Drinking Water
Lead can enter drinking water from service lines, solder, fixtures or household plumbing. You cannot reliably identify it by taste or appearance.
Explore →Arsenic in Private Well Water
Arsenic cannot be identified by taste, smell or appearance. In Rhode Island, additional testing can be appropriate based on location and land-use history.
Explore →PFAS & Rhode Island Drinking Water
PFAS cannot be identified by taste, odor or appearance. Rhode Island public systems monitor regulated PFAS, and private-well owners can use certified laboratories for testing.
Explore →Bacteria in Private Well Water
Bacteria are part of Rhode Island's recommended annual private-well testing schedule and cannot be ruled out because water looks or tastes normal.
Explore →Nitrate & Nitrite in Private Well Water
RIDOH recommends annual nitrate/nitrite testing for private wells. These substances cannot be identified by appearance alone.
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