# Rhode Island — Private well water testing at property sale: which states require it

For Rhode Island, testing required at sale? is Require testing for coliform bacteria, fluoride, iron, lead, manganese, nitrate, nitrite and turbidity of all private wells currently in service, or capable of being placed in service, as a source of drinking water, prior to sale of a property upon which they are located or serviced; what must be tested is coliform bacteria, fluoride, iron, lead, manganese, nitrate, nitrite and turbidity; authority is 23-1-5.3, verified against its source on 2026-08-19.

- **State:** Rhode Island _(our reading, not quoted from the source)_
- **Testing required at sale?:** Require testing for coliform bacteria, fluoride, iron, lead, manganese, nitrate, nitrite and turbidity of all private wells currently in service, or capable of being placed in service, as a source of drinking water, prior to sale of a property upon which they are located or serviced _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **What must be tested:** coliform bacteria, fluoride, iron, lead, manganese, nitrate, nitrite and turbidity _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Authority:** 23-1-5.3 _(verified: appears in the quote below)_

## What the source says

> Develop and promulgate any rules and regulations that are necessary to establish drinking water quality standards for private wells, and shall be subject to the Administrative Procedures Act, chapter 35 of title 42. As a minimum, these rules and regulations shall: (i) Specifically identify all contaminants to be tested, as well as the acceptable level for each contaminant; (ii) Require testing for coliform bacteria, fluoride, iron, lead, manganese, nitrate, nitrite and turbidity of all new private wells prior to being placed into service as a source of drinking water; (iii) Require testing for coliform bacteria, fluoride, iron, lead, manganese, nitrate, nitrite and turbidity of all private wells currently in service, or capable of being placed in service, as a source of drinking water, prior to sale of a property upon which they are located or serviced;

## Source

- https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE23/23-1/23-1-5.3.htm

Last verified: 2026-08-19. Review by: 2027-08-19.
Part of [Private well water testing at property sale: which states require it](https://referencesource.org/well-water-testing-at-property-transfer/).