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Radionuclides in Private Wells
RadTown USA Topics
Natural Radiation:This page provides information on ways to test and treat private wells for radionuclides in the water.
On this page:
Overview
Approximately 15% of Americans rely on private drinking water supplies. Unlike public drinking water systems, wells generally are not routinely inspected. Therefore, these households must take special precautions to ensure the safety and quality of their drinking water supply.
Remember
Testing your home is the only way to determine radionuclide contamination!Drinking water with elevated levels of radium and uranium – which are found in virtually all rock, soil, and water – may cause cancer after several years. Drinking water with elevated concentrations of uranium may affect a person over a much shorter time period.
If purification filters, storage tanks, and associated piping begin to collect radioactive wastes in elevated concentrations, these materials may require disposal in off-site facilities licensed to receive and dispose of radioactive waste.
Radon is a radioactive gas. It occurs naturally and is produced by the breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water. It can also dissolve into our water supply. As you shower or use your water for other household tasks, the gas can be released from the water into the air.
Who is protecting you
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Although EPA regulates public water systems, it does not have the authority to regulate private drinking water wells. However, under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), EPA sets guidelines for radioactive contaminants that well owners can reference.
The States
Most states have established drinking water standards that implement EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Act, enforce those standards, and establish monitoring programs.
What you can do to protect yourself
Test your well water for radiation contamination annually.
Radionuclides can be found in ground water using a gross alpha test. A gross alpha test measures the amount of alpha radiation from all radionuclides that may be present in the water. If a high level of radioactivity is found, additional tests are needed to identify which radionuclides are present.
All naturally occurring radioactivity can be treated.
Radium and uranium can both be treated using reverse osmosis.
- Reverse osmosis-squeezing water through a special membrane, which is a specialized filter. The membrane has microscopic holes, which are specially sized to allow relatively small water molecules to pass through, while trapping larger contaminants.
Radon can be removed from water by using one of two methods:
- Aeration treatment—spraying water or mixing it with air and then venting the air from the water before use, or
- GAC treatment—filtering water through carbon. Radon attaches to the carbon and leaves the water free of radon. Disposing the carbon may require special handling if it is used at a high radon level or if it has been used for a long time.
Filters for drinking water purification can concentrate radionuclides in elevated amounts. Contact your well or water treatment system supplier or serviceman to discuss periods between filter changes, and disposal of used filters.
Resources
| Introduction to the Clean Water Act September 2008. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Watershed Academy Web This site gives an overview of the Clean Water Act through a series of slides and accompanying text. |
| Drinking Water and Health: What you need to know October 1999. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Ground Water & Drinking Water This page provides information on the Environmental Protection Agency’s role in protecting drinking water. |
| Ground Water & Drinking Water November 2009. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency This page provides information on the Environmental Protection Agency’s drinking water and ground water protection programs. |
| Private Drinking Water Wells February 2006. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency This site discusses private drinking well issues like water safety, health risks and where can you go for additional information. |
| Commonly Encountered Radionuclides February 2009. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Radiation Protection This page contains links to fact sheets on commonly encountered radionuclides like radon, radium and uranium. |
Facts: Private Well Testing (PDF) (14 pp, 896.73Kb [about pdf format])  July 1997. New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services This document offers information on contaminated private well water and lists how to reduce contaminants if they are discovered. |
| Radionuclides & Your Well Water: A Homeowner’s Guide (PDF) (8pp, 119Kb [about pdf format]) March 2005. Baltimore County Department of Environmental Protection & Resource Management, in coordination with the Maryland Department of Environment This document provides information on testing and treating domestic well water. |
| Radium in Drinking Water January 2008. Illinois Department of Public Health This page provides an overview of radium and drinking water concerns regarding radium. |
| Radon and Drinking Water from Private Wells (PDF) (2pp, 98Kb [about pdf format]) 2003. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention This document offers information on radon, including radon exposure and radon drinking water concerns. |
| When should I test my well water? March 2003. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources This page offers information about testing private well water for contaminants. |