Well water testing in Kent County, Rhode Island
What official data says about private wells in Kent County, what to test for, and the state-certified labs nearby.
About 4% of the county's 164,801 residents. Rank 4 of 5 in Rhode Island.
95% range 98 to 181 private-well users (2010 base year). Rank 4 of 5 in Rhode Island.
Highest potential (average indoor radon may be greater than 4 pCi/L). EPA says the map should not be used to decide whether an individual home needs testing.
Labs with an address in this county, from the official state lists on this site, matched by ZIP code.
What to test for in Kent County
Private wells are not regulated like public water: EPA advises owners to test their well every year for total coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids and pH. Your state's own schedule:
- 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. source
- 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. source
- In some areas of Rhode Island, RIDOH says it may be a good idea to test for arsenic, beryllium and/or PFAS. Its online map tool shows whether your home is in an area where these special tests are recommended. source
Arsenic. USGS estimates that about 133 people using private wells in Kent County had arsenic above 10 µg/L, EPA's limit for public water (2010 base year; 95% range 98 to 181). USGS describes this kind of estimate as useful "for broad screening of the population at risk", so it says nothing certain about any one well. Arsenic has no taste or smell: test for it by name.
Radon. EPA puts Kent County in Zone 1: highest potential (average indoor radon may be greater than 4 pCi/L). That map is about radon in indoor air, and EPA says it should not be used to decide whether an individual home needs testing. If radon is found in your air and you have a well, EPA suggests testing the water too: see radon in well water.
For anything specific to your home (farms nearby, old plumbing, a new baby, a smell or stain), use the which-tests checklist. When the results arrive, check your numbers against EPA's limits.
Show the numbers
| Item | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Providence County | 571 people (2010 base year) | |
| Washington County | 535 people (2010 base year) | |
| Newport County | 267 people (2010 base year) | |
| Kent County (this county) | 133 people (2010 base year) | |
| Bristol County | 3 people (2010 base year) |
USGS model estimate for broad screening, not a measurement of any well. Only a test tells you about your own well. Source: USGS, Estimated county level domestic well population with arsenic greater than 10 micrograms per liter (Ayotte, Medalie and Qi, 2017), accessed 2026-11-01.
PFAS in public water near Kent County (public supply, not your well)
This is public water data, not your well. A private well draws its own groundwater, which can have more or less PFAS than the public supply nearby. Only a test of your well tells you.
Under EPA’s fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 5), public water systems sampled their water for 29 PFAS between Jan 3, 2023 and Jun 17, 2026. 4 public systems that serve ZIP codes mainly in Kent County reported results. 1 of them had at least one sample with PFOA or PFOS at or above 4.0 ng/L, and 1 had at least one of the 29 PFAS measured at or above its reporting level.
| Public water system | System ID | Highest PFOA (ng/L) | Highest PFOS (ng/L) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent County Water Authority | RI1559511 | 7.5 |
4.0 ng/L (parts per trillion) is both EPA’s UCMR 5 reporting level for PFOA and PFOS and the number in EPA’s 2024 limit for public water. That limit is judged on a running annual average, so one sample at that level is not a violation. EPA proposed changes to its PFAS rules in May 2026: see PFAS in well water for the current status and who should test a well. To test your own well, find a lab certified for PFAS.
Method: a system counts for this county when it reports serving a ZIP code whose largest land part is in this county, so a system serving several counties counts in each. Source: U.S. EPA, UCMR 5 occurrence data (by state), file dated Oct 15, 2026; downloaded Nov 1, 2026.
Testing programs and help in Rhode Island
- Under the federal Emerging Contaminants for Small and Disadvantaged Communities (ECSDC) grant program, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) is testing private wells near targeted areas named in the Statewide PFAS Source Investigation Report. If your well is in a sampling area, RIDEM will contact you by mail or in person. source
- 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. source
Buying a home with a well in Kent County
Loan test (FHA, VA, USDA) in Kent County, RI
- VA. Test results are valid for 90 days from the date the local health authority certifies them, unless the local authority says otherwise. VA’s chapter names no list of contaminants: the water must meet the local health authority’s requirements, or EPA guidelines where it has none. Your lender may ask for specific tests.
- FHA. A well test is required in the situations FHA’s handbook lists, among others, and the report may not be more than 180 days old at disbursement.
- USDA. Guaranteed loans need a water quality test for a private well, done by the local health authority or a state-certified lab, and no more than 180 days old at closing.
Lenders can ask for more (extra tests, a particular lab, who takes the sample): ask your lender before you book. Federal rules as read on Nov 3, 2026 source 1 source 2 source 3. Full comparison: VA, FHA and USDA well water test requirements. Loan test kits sold by mail, with price and days to results: kits compared.
State-certified labs in Kent County
New England Testing Laboratory
59 Greenhill St, West Warwick, RIPublic samples: yes (per state)RI Analytical
41 Illinois Ave., Warwick, RIPublic samples: yes (per state)Labs on the Rhode Island list whose own websites say they take homeowner samples: Katahdin Analytical (Scarborough). Use Check my ZIP to sort labs by distance.
See all Rhode Island labs in the finder and filter by the test you need and by labs that take homeowner samples.
- USGS, Estimated use of water in the United States, county-level data for 2015 (Dieter et al., ver. 2.0, 2018)
- USGS, Estimated county level domestic well population with arsenic greater than 10 micrograms per liter (Ayotte, Medalie and Qi, 2017)
- U.S. EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county list (EPA 402/A-16/001)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA to county relationship file (lab ZIP codes to counties)
- RIDOH - Certified Drinking Water Testing Labs / RIDOH - Appendix to Analytical Laboratory Certificate LAI00368 (page as fetched 2026-11-07 (no date printed); certificate appendix issued 1/21/2026)
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