Surface Water Quality Monitoring: Department of Health

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
CLIA Certificate of Compliance for High Complexity Clinical Laboratory
EPA Environmental Protection Agency
Ambient Air and Drinking Water Testing
Food Science Laboratories are accredited by ANAB to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 for Testing Laboratories, Certificate AT-2054
Forensic Biology/DNA, Toxicology and Drug Chemistry Laboratories are accredited by ANAB to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 for Testing Laboratories, Certificate FT-0004, Federal Bureau of Investigations DNA Analysis & CODIS
Rhode Island Department of Health - In-State Analytical Laboratory Certificate
Rhode Island Department of Health - In-State Clinical Laboratory License

What we do

Analyze chemical contaminants and water quality indicators in the lake, river and pond samples collected and submitted by the RIDEM Programs.

Reports the concentration of metals, nitrates, phosphorous, cyanide, hardness and fecal bacteria found in the water samples so that RIDEM can monitor the source and spread of pollutants and to determine if the water meets the standards defined by the Clean Water Act.

Identify and quantify toxins produced by the cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) when they concentrate or bloom in the ponds and lakes and trigger public health advisories for recreation and consumption.

Accomplishments

In 2022, the chemical and microbiological laboratories performed 4,015 harmful algal bloom tests to identify and count cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) and measure cyanotoxin concentrations in surface water supplies, recreational rivers, lakes and ponds in Rhode Island. The laboratory results support public health decisions to close bodies of water when harmful algal blooms are observed and reopen them when it is safe again.

Contact

Surface Water Quality Monitoring

Mission

What we do

Accomplishments