VOC Water Testing Labs in Rhode Island (3 state-certified labs)
Labs on Rhode Island's official certification list that test drinking water for VOCs, with the ones that take homeowner samples first.
3 named for VOCs itself on the list.
Per the state list or a state web page. Call to confirm.
Located outside Rhode Island but on its list.
USGS estimate for Rhode Island.
How many labs test for VOCs in Rhode Island
3 labs on Rhode Island's official drinking-water lab list are certified to test for VOCs. All 3 are named for VOCs on the list. 3 of them are marked as taking samples from the public. They are listed first.
The list is published by the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) - Center for Drinking Water Quality and State Health Laboratories, laboratory certification. List versions on file: page as fetched 2026-11-07 (no date printed); certificate appendix issued 1/21/2026; page as fetched 2026-11-07 (no date printed); certificate appendix issued 3/12/2026; page as fetched 2026-11-07 (no date printed); certificate appendix issued 3/24/2026. Fetched 2026-11-07 (UTC).
Rhode Island labs certified for VOCs
Marked as taking public samples (3)
| Lab | Location | VOC certification | Public samples | Cert. expiry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
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 VOCs in Rhode Island
Volatile organic compounds come from fuel, solvents and their breakdown products, and because they evaporate they reach you through the shower as well as the tap. Read our VOCs explainer.
Rhode Island guidance that mentions VOCs:
- 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. [1]
About 112,853 people in Rhode Island used private wells in 2015, by the USGS estimate of people on domestic self-supplied water. [2] 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
- Rhode Island Department of Health, Testing Your Well Water (last updated October 22, 2026)
- USGS, Estimated use of water in the United States, county-level data for 2015 (Dieter et al., ver. 2.0, 2018)
- RIDOH - Certified Drinking Water Testing Labs / RIDOH - Appendix to Analytical Laboratory Certificate LAI00033 (official list)
- RIDOH - Certified Drinking Water Testing Labs / RIDOH - Appendix to Analytical Laboratory Certificate LAI00351 (official list)
- RIDOH - Certified Drinking Water Testing Labs / RIDOH - Appendix to Analytical Laboratory Certificate LAI00389 (official list)
RIDOH - Certified Drinking Water Testing Labs / RIDOH - Appendix to Analytical Laboratory Certificate LAI00368.
Official source