Bacteria Water Testing Labs in Rhode Island: 14 certified

How many labs test for coliform bacteria in Rhode Island

14 labs on Rhode Island's official drinking-water lab list are certified to test for coliform bacteria. Of these, 3 are named for coliform bacteria itself and 11 hold a group certification that includes it. 4 of them are marked as taking samples from the public. They are listed first. 11 are located outside Rhode Island.

The list is published by the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) - Center for Drinking Water Quality and State Health Laboratories, laboratory certification. These labs come from list files with 4 different dates; each lab page shows its own. Fetched 2026-11-07 (UTC).

Rhode Island labs certified for coliform bacteria

Marked as taking public samples (4)

Lab	Location	Bacteria certification	Public samples	Cert. expiry
Microbac Laboratories Inc.	Dayville, CT	Certified for a group that includes coliform bacteria: confirm with the lab	Public samples: yes (per state)	Not on the list
New England Testing Laboratory	West Warwick, RI	Named on the official list	Public samples: yes (per state)	12/31/2026
Rhode Island Analytical Laboratories	Warwick, RI	Named on the official list	Public samples: yes (per state)	12/31/2026
Rhode Island Department of Health, State Health Lab	Providence, RI	Named on the official list	Public samples: yes (per state)	12/31/2026

Other labs on the list (10)

Lab	Location	Bacteria certification	Public samples	Cert. expiry
Aquatek Lab, Inc.	Woodbridge, CT	Certified for a group that includes coliform bacteria: confirm with the lab	Public samples: ask the lab	Not on the list
Con-Test, A Pace Analytical Laboratory	East Longmeadow, MA	Certified for a group that includes coliform bacteria: confirm with the lab	Public samples: ask the lab	Not on the list
Eurofins Concord	Concord, NH	Certified for a group that includes coliform bacteria: confirm with the lab	Public samples: ask the lab	Not on the list
Eurofins Derry	Derry, NH	Certified for a group that includes coliform bacteria: confirm with the lab	Public samples: ask the lab	Not on the list
Eurofins Pomona	Pomona, CA	Certified for a group that includes coliform bacteria: confirm with the lab	Public samples: ask the lab	Not on the list
Eurofins Providence (AB)	Middleboro, MA	Certified for a group that includes coliform bacteria: confirm with the lab	Public samples: ask the lab	Not on the list
National Testing Laboratories LTD	Ypsilanti, MI	Certified for a group that includes coliform bacteria: confirm with the lab	Public samples: ask the lab	Not on the list
Pace Analytical Center for Testing & Innovation	Mount Juliet, TN	Certified for a group that includes coliform bacteria: confirm with the lab	Public samples: ask the lab	Not on the list
Pace Analytical Services, LLC-Westborough, MA	Westborough, MA	Certified for a group that includes coliform bacteria: confirm with the lab	Public samples: ask the lab	Not on the list
Phoenix Environmental Laboratories, Inc.	Manchester, CT	Certified for a group that includes coliform bacteria: confirm with the lab	Public samples: ask the lab	Not on the list

How the Rhode Island list marks public samples (whole list). Yes for the labs on RIDOH's 'Certified Drinking Water Testing Labs' page, which says they "provide analytical services for a fee to individuals and public water systems". Not stated for the other out-of-state labs.

Before you send a sample, call the lab to confirm it is currently certified for the exact test and method, that it accepts samples from homeowners, and how to collect and ship them. Status can change between list updates.

Why test for coliform bacteria in Rhode Island

About a third of the 397 domestic wells tested for bacteria in a national USGS study had total coliform. Read our coliform bacteria explainer.

EPA advises private-well owners to test every year for total coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids and pH. [1]

Rhode Island guidance that mentions coliform bacteria:

The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) recommends three routine sets of tests for private wells. Every year: coliform bacteria, nitrate/nitrite, color, chloride, sodium and turbidity. Every three to five years: metals, corrosivity and hardness. Every five to 10 years: volatile organic compounds and MTBE. If you have had problems before or are at higher risk for certain things (such as iron-rich soil or worn copper pipes), RIDOH says to test for those more often. [2]
RIDOH says you may also test any time you are concerned about your water. Wells are at higher risk for bacteria after a flood or if the well is damaged, and you may want to test after installing a treatment system to check that it works. [2]
RIDOH and the University of Rhode Island (URI) offer tip sheets on common well issues such as bacteria, iron and nitrates. You can call RIDOH's Private Wells Program or URI's Water Quality Program about your concerns, or ask the lab that tested your water to let you speak to a licensed interpreter. [2]

About 112,853 people in Rhode Island used private wells in 2015, by the USGS estimate of people on domestic self-supplied water. [3] Federal limits are written for public water systems, not private wells, so testing is up to the owner.

For tests that depend on your home (farms nearby, old plumbing, a new baby), use the which-tests checklist. When results arrive, check your numbers against EPA's limits. State guidance, county data and every lab: Rhode Island.

Other tests in Rhode Island

Nitrate testing4 labs Arsenic testing4 labs Lead testing4 labs PFAS testing18 labs Manganese testing3 labs VOC testing3 labs

Sources

Certification fields come only from the state list. Checked 3 Nov 2026. General information, not medical advice.

Coliform Bacteria Water Testing Labs in Rhode Island (14 state-certified labs)