Radon in water is a new and emerging issue. There is not as yet a standard national action level for radon levels in water, though the EPA's limit of 300 pCi/L for radon in municipal water systems will be in effect soon. In a strange twist, the EPA now says if water suppliers launch a multimedia campaign through public service announcements to help the public better understand the health effects of radon, they will be allowed to have up to 3000 pCi/L of radon in their water. Please keep in mind that many states and municipalities maintain their own standard levels that may be higher or lower than the EPA's guidelines.

Radon in water is not as dangerous from a public health standpoint as radon in air. Ingestion of radon-laden water causes approximately 18 cases of stomach cancer annually. Inhalation of radon gas and radon decay products causes between 15,000 & 22,000 lung cancer deaths annually.

The problem with radon in water is that a great deal of it finds its way into the air. As a rule of thumb, each 10,000 pCi/L of radon in your water creates an additional 1 pCi/L in your air.

Here is the scenario: Radon is fairly soluble in water. Deep wells get their water from within bedrock, shale, granite and other rock deep beneath the surface... the same place radon comes from. The radon gas dissolves in the water and works its way up to your home when you bathe, wash the dishes, do laundry, etc. When the water becomes agitated, the dissolved radon gas is freed into the air.

You should test for radon in water if the following circumstances exist:

A radon in air test was above 4.0 pCi/L
The water supply is from a private well OR a public water supply that gets its water from deep wells.

High-Efficiency Aeration These systems send thousands of tiny bubbles from bottom to top through the water in a tank, essentially 'freeing' the radon from the water and venting it out of the building where it dissipates into the air. This works much like a bottle of soda, where effervescence occurs (rising bubbles with a hiss) and releases the carbon dioxide into the air. From a cost standpoint, this is the most expensive method. Yet, it is also the safest, most effective and easiest to maintain.

Granular Activated Carbon (Charcoal or GAC) In this method, water is forced through granulated carbon and radon becomes trapped or lost in tiny crevices in the carbon. Much like the workings of a lobster trap, radon finds its way in but cannot find its way out. GAC is the most cost effective solution for removing high levels of radon in water. Disposing of spent carbon filters is often difficult and expensive as spent carbon is considered low-level radioactive waste. Small carbon filters attached to kitchen faucets or under sinks are inadequate for removing radon from drinking water.

The cost of making repairs to reduce radon in water depends largely on the type of system installed, the amount of radon present in the water, access to supply lines and other factors. The cost can be as low as $1000 for a carbon system or as low as $3750 for an aeration system. Please contact us at (866) 86-RADON or use our Radon Client Survey Form for a free, on-site estimate.