Operative Text
(6) The owner of every well used for drinking water including those serving a property which is
rented or leased shall have its water tested at a Massachusetts certified laboratory for the
following chemical and bacteriological parameters at a minimum of once a year: total
coliform bacteria, e. coli bacteria, nitrate, nitrite, pH, conductivity, sodium, and iron. All
other required chemical parameters listed in VIII.(3) should be tested at a minimum of every
ten (10) years. Wells installed in bedrock aquifers should also be tested at a minimum of
every ten (10) years for the radiological parameters described in VIII.(4). The Board of
Health may require more frequent testing, or testing for additional parameters, where other
water quality problems are known or suspected to exist.
(7) The owner of a rental property shall make results of all water quality tests available to all
tenants of the property and the Board of Health. In cases where the well water does not meet
the water quality standards outlined above, the Board of Health may require the property
owner to provide an alternative approved source of drinking water for the tenants.Under Holden, Mass., Board of Health Regulations for Private Wells §§ VIII(6)-(7), every owner of a drinking-water well — including wells serving rental properties — must have the water tested at least once a year by a Massachusetts-certified laboratory for a core set of chemical and bacteriological parameters, including total coliform bacteria, E. coli, nitrate, nitrite, pH, conductivity, sodium, and iron. Additional chemical parameters and, for bedrock aquifer wells, radiological parameters must be tested at least every ten years. The Board of Health retains authority to require more frequent testing or testing for additional parameters when water quality concerns arise, and all test results must be shared with tenants and the Board of Health.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under §§ VIII(6)-(7), compliant rental property owners arrange annual laboratory testing of their well water at a Massachusetts-certified facility, covering at minimum the eight core parameters specified in the regulation, and schedule the broader chemical and radiological panels on the required ten-year cycle. Operators keep records of all test results and make those results available to every tenant on the property as well as to the Holden Board of Health. When test results fall short of applicable water quality standards, owners should be prepared to respond to a Board of Health directive to supply tenants with an alternative approved drinking-water source.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section §§ VIII(6)-(7) of Holden's Board of Health Regulations for Private Wells gives tenants the right to receive the results of all water quality tests conducted on the well serving their rental property. If a landlord has not shared test results or if the water does not meet quality standards, tenants can contact the Holden Board of Health, which has authority to require the property owner to provide an alternative approved drinking-water source. Tenant-rights organizations and local legal aid offices can help renters understand what options are generally available when a landlord appears to be out of compliance with these obligations.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 11, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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