In Rhode Island, private wells are required by law to be tested before the sale or transfer of a home. See the Rhode Island Department of Health’s Buying a Home tip sheet for more information. The Rhode Island State Health Laboratories (RISHL), which provide drinking water quality testing for private well owners, are moving to a new building at 150 Richmond Street in Providence this September. The modern, state-of-the-art laboratory space will enhance the State’s testing capabilities to better protect the health and safety of Rhode Islanders.  

 In order to move operations to its new location, the RI State Health Laboratories (RISHL) will temporarily stop accepting drinking water samples from private well owners for a period beginning September 11, 2025. The last day to submit samples to the current location at 50 Orms Street in Providence is September 10, 2025. After this date, private well testing may not be available at the RISHL for several months. If any clients require private well testing while services are not available at the RISHL, they can submit samples to another certified drinking water testing lab. 

 For the most up-to-date information on the RISHL move, visit health.ri.gov/laboratory-testing/laboratory-building-move. RIDOH will post information about when testing services will resume in the new building to this page as it becomes available.  

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