Although the granular activated carbon system has few moving parts and should have a long, useful life, radon build up over long periods of time becomes a low-level radioactive source requiring special disposal. GAC treatment – filtering water through granular activated carbon. You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link. To receive updates highlighting our recent work to prevent infectious disease, enter your email address: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Extreme Levels of Radon-222 and Uranium in a Private Water Supply 22. The U.S. EPA estimates that in homes served by wells, groundwater contributes about 5 percent of the radon found in the household air. If a well or bore hole is supplied from such water, the use in an enclosure such as a dwelling or greenhouse will release radon into that environment. Radon in your home's water is not usually a problem when its source is surface water. Aquifers that have a more heterogeneous mixture of materials, such as sandstone or sand and gravel, typically do not have high radon concentrations or large fluctuation in radon concentrations. Nor do they know that radon is not part of a standard well water test. Radon in water usually originates in water wells that are drilled into bedrock containing radon gas. What are the health effects of radon? Think about why you’re considering a filter, Step 3. “Old” water will have a lower radon concentration due to radon’s half-life of approximately 3.6 days. It can also be present in well water, where it can be released every time you turn on a tap or run the shower. The gas naturally rises up from the soil and can get into any type of building where it builds up due to negative pressure and lack of air flow. Types of Systems - GAC & Aeration. We only install Aeration Systems. Radon is colourless, odorless, and tasteless. There the radon continues to decay and give off radiation; however, the treatment equipment is usually not located in the living area of the home. Radon gas can seep in through foundation cracks, exhaust pipes and even well water. Call the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791) which can provide phone numbers for your State laboratory certification office. A water well system professional can determine whether your well can be retrofitted to draw from zones in which the water contains radon at levels consistently below the proposed U.S. EPA standard. Radon in well water can contribute to the indoor air levels of radon gas in your home by releasing radon into the air as water flows into sinks, tubs, and appliances. Estimat… If the water comes from a ground water source, call your water system and ask if they've tested the water for radon. We can do the test for your or you can pick up a radon test kit at your local UGA extension office. When radon is released from the ground into the outdoor air, it is diluted and is not a concern. CDC twenty four seven. Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website. It is important to maintain home water treatment units properly because failure to do so can lead to other water contamination problems. The U.S. EPA does not regulate residential wells, but private well owners may use the U.S. EPA’s proposed radon levels as their personal action levels. Well water can also contain trapped radon, which may be released into the air when water is drawn. Radon Survey of the American Water Works System 20. As the air bubbles rise through the water, they strip radon and carry it out of the top of the tank and through a vent pipe to above the roof line. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that radon causes some 21,000 lung cancer deaths a year in the U.S. alone. Just as uranium is present in all rocks and soils, so are radium and radon, due to radioactive decay. A radon in water problem is more likely when its source is ground water, e.g., a private well or a public water supply system that uses ground water. This means new and old buildings, well-sealed and draughty buildings, and buildings and homes with or without basements. For more information about small drinking water systems regulated under Ontario regulation 319/08, contact your local public health unit. The Canadian Radon Guideline from Health Canada recommends the level of radon in the air of a home be no more than 200 Becquerels per cubic metre (Bq/m 3) per year. If you live in an area with high radon in groundwater it can get into your private well. It is a very wise idea to have the air of your home checked for high levels of radon gas. Point-of-use devices, such as those installed on a tap or under the sink, treat only a small portion of the water in the home and are not as effective in reducing radon; radioactivity also can build up on the filters of these devices and become a hazard. The EPA is proposing that radon levels in drinking water from public systems be below 300 pCi/L, or alternatively below 4000 pCi/L if a multimedia mitigation plan for indoor air is developed by the state. If the radon-in-water levels are relatively low (less than 10,000 pCi/L in water), the water is likely not the source. Radon is a colorless, tasteless, odorless, radioactive gas. The two most common treatment technologies are granular activated carbon and aeration: WellOwner.org is supported by the Rural Community Assistance Partnership (, Copyright © 2021 Wellowner.org - Water Well Resources and Water Well Service Directory. Disposing of 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. High levels of dissolved radon are found in the groundwater in some areas flowing through granite or granitic sand and gravel formations. What type of treatment solutions are available? This technology has a lower front-end cost, but there are costs associated with disposal of radioactivity build up after many years. It occurs naturally and is produced by the breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water. Radon is produced when uranium found in soil, rock or water decays. Although the U.S. EPA still considers the risk from ingestion to be small compared to the risk from breathing indoor air containing radon, it now says drinking water contaminated with radon may add some minor risk of developing stomach or other internal organ cancer. Up and become a health hazard treatment, please visit CDC-ATSDR ’ radon in well water ontario radon page, exhaust and! 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