Official State of Rhode Island website

State of Rhode Island Department of Health

Contact Us - Center for Drinking Water Quality

glass of water and droplets

We would like to remind you of the different ways we can support you when you have business with our office. Please take some time to review the options that are available so you can choose what works best for you and your schedule. Select each section title to expand it. 
 

To speak with someone in-person at RIDOH’s Cannon Building (3 Capitol Hill, Providence, RI 02908), please set up an appointment to come see us Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. All visitors will be asked to sign in and wear a visitor badge.

Once you arrive at the Cannon Building, use the entrance on the access road between State Street and Park Street. Sign in at the security desk.

After signing in, staff from our Center will be contacted to send a staff member to the lobby to assist you. 

The staff member may be able to address your issue in the lobby. If the staff member needs to return to the Center to assist you further, they will escort you to the Center's office (located on the second floor) to fully resolve your request.

When your issue is resolved, the staff member will escort you from the Center's office to the lobby, where you can exit the building.

To ensure timely service when you arrive, please notify us in advance before visiting. You may call or email the Center sharing a specific date and time that you plan to stop by. That will help us arrange for staff to be available to help you. We may be able to resolve your issue via phone or email.

Please note: Parking at the Cannon Building (3 Capitol Hill) is limited. Before 3 p.m., visitors must park at the metered spaces close to the building. Parking lots are open to visitors after 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. 

Email DOH.RIDWQ@health.ri.gov with your question or concern. You may also call the Center for Drinking Water Quality during regular business hours at 401-222-6867. Please expect replies during normal business hours (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).

If the matter does not pertain to (or does not only pertain to) drinking water or licensed aquatic venues, please call RIDOH's Health Information Line at 401-222-5960. Health Information Line staff will connect you to the person best suited to help you. The Health Information Line is available Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

To view resources, download forms, or browse health and safety information, please check the RIDOH website. Many resources are accessible on the website at any time. Helpful pages include those listed below, or you can start at health.ri.gov/water and explore on your own. 

Public Drinking Water System Licensing 

Public Drinking Water System Rules and Compliance 

Public Drinking Water System Program Pages 

Support for Public Water System Consumers 

Support for Aquatic Venues 

There are three (3) ways you can submit forms or payments to our Center:  

  • Mail forms* or payments to:

    Center for Drinking Water Quality
    Room 209, RIDOH
    3 Capitol Hill
    Providence, RI 02908
    *You can email forms that do not have an accompanying fee to DOH.RIDWQ@health.ri.gov. 

  • Place forms or payments in secure dropboxes outside RIDOH's building at 3 Capitol Hill. These dropboxes are available at any time. 
  • Secure dropboxes are also available inside RIDOH's building during regular business hours. All dropboxes are checked twice per day, between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. and again between 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. 

 

Use the drop boxes conveniently located outside the north entrance to 3 Capitol Hill anytime.
Use the drop boxes conveniently located outside the north entrance to 3 Capitol Hill anytime.
There are secure dropboxes inside the north entrance (near the security desk) that you may use during regular business hours.
There are secure dropboxes inside the north entrance (near the security desk) that you may use during regular business hours.

Public Water System (PWS) licenses

PWS licenses must be renewed annually by June 30. In the spring, PWS contacts will receive emails reminding them to renew. Follow the instructions on the renewal form and submit all forms with payment by the due date.

Drinking Water Operator licenses

Drinking water operators renew their licenses on a 2-year (Operator-In-Training) or 3-year (Full) basis. Each license has a unique renewal date, which can be found on page 2 of the renewal application. Operator renewal applications are sent by email 60 days before the license expiration date. You can always visit the Operator Certification webpage for more information or check the status and renewal date of a license in the online database.

Seasonal Aquatic Venue licenses

Seasonal aquatic venue licenses must be renewed annually by May 31, while year-round aquatic venue licenses must be renewed annually by December 31. Aquatic venue contacts will receive notifications from the licensing office 60 days prior to the expiration date, reminding them to renew. Follow the instructions in the letter to renew online.

Other licenses

Water samplers and interpreters will also receive their renewal applications by email 60 days before the license expiration date; or, they can renew online. View frequently asked questions about renewing online here.

Renewal for water filtration, well drilling, and pump installer licenses are all completed online on the Contractor’s Registration and Licensing Board website.

Renew a License Online

RIDOH adheres to the Access to Public Records Act, R.I. Gen. Laws §38-2-1, et. seq. To learn about your right to information and to initiate a public records request, please visit this Public Records Request page. If preferred, you may call 401-222-6867 or email DOH.RIDWQ@health.ri.gov to place a request for information.