Where can I find the analytical results from drinking water samples?
All RadNet drinking water sampling results are available on the RadNet Envirofacts website. For more information, visit RadNet. Return to Frequent Questions About RadNet.
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All RadNet drinking water sampling results are available on the RadNet Envirofacts website. For more information, visit RadNet. Return to Frequent Questions About RadNet.
Samples of precipitation such as rain, snow or sleet are collected at more than 25 stations across the U.S. Samples are collected using specially designed precipitation collection devices which funnel the precipitation into a bucket for transfer to a shipping container. EPA’s National Analytical Radiation Environmental Laboratory (NAREL) receives the…
Answer: Public water systems (PWSs) commonly add phosphates to drinking water to prevent the release of metals in drinking water. Orthophosphate is most commonly used for lead and copper control. Polyphosphates sequester iron and manganese to prevent discolored water but are not effective to control lead and copper. Blended phosphates…
Answer: Human skin does not absorb lead in water. For more information visit our website: https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/basic-information-about-lead-drinking-water. Question (23002-32377) Find a printable PDF copy of all frequent questions pertaining to lead. Other Frequent Questions about Lead General Information about Lead Testing for Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Abatement, Risk Assessment and…
Answer: Section 1417 of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) establishes the definition for “lead free” as a weighted average of 0.25% lead calculated across the wetted surfaces of a pipe, pipe fitting, plumbing fitting, and fixture and 0.2% lead for solder and flux. The Act also provides a methodology…
Answer: All community water systems (CWSs) and NTNCWSs must collect lead and copper tap samples. The frequency of the monitoring and number of samples to be collected and analyzed is based primarily on the number of people served and tap water monitoring results. For an outline of monitoring requirements (e.g…
Answer: Yes, find “Important Steps You Can Take to Reduce Lead in Drinking Water” if you are concerned about lead in their drinking water. The list is not intended to be exhaustive or to imply that all actions equally reduce lead from drinking water. EPA recommends you also contact your…
Answer: Lead usually gets into drinking water through contact with plumbing materials such as lead pipes or lead solder, or faucets, valves, and fixtures made of brass (brass contains some lead). Since each home has different plumbing pipes and materials, test results are likely to be different for each home…
Answer: Section 1417(a)(3) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) prohibits the sale of solder and flux that is not lead-free unless the solder or flux bears a prominent label stating that it is illegal to use the solder or flux in the installation or repair of any plumbing providing…
The EPA’s RadNet monitoring network is designed to track fluctuations in airborne radioactive particles. RadNet does not track non-ionizing radiation that comes from power lines, transmitters, or cell phone networks like 5G.
EPA reports RadNet laboratory results in conventional units, as shown below with their international equivalents: Medium Conventional unit International SI unit Air Filter Curie (Ci) per cubic meter (m3) Becquerel (Bq) per cubic meter (m3) Precipitation and drinking water Curie (Ci) per liter (L) Becquerel (Bq) per liter (L) Results…
The EPA operates 140 radiation air monitors across the United States as part of its RadNet nationwide monitoring system. RadNet air monitors measure gamma radiation emitted from airborne radioactive particles as they collect on the monitor’s air filter. Near-real-time data are continually reviewed by computer, and if the results show…
It is very common for natural background radiation levels to change during precipitation events such as rain, sleet or snow. While there are many more factors that affect radiation levels than just precipitation, radon and radon decay products, which occur naturally may be captured in the precipitation and brought to…
More than 60 drinking water sampling locations reported results in the United States in 2018 as part of the RadNet monitoring network. Drinking water samples are typically collected four times a year from taps and are sent to the EPA’s National Analytical Radiation Environmental Laboratory (NAREL) for analysis. Each of…
The EPA monitors beta particles as part of the RadNet network through routine laboratory air filter analysis. RadNet air filters are sent to the EPA’s National Analytical Radiation Environmental Laboratory (NAREL) for measurement of gross beta air concentrations and further analysis if warranted. Analysis results for beta measurements on air…