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Where does radon
in my water come from?
As water moves through the ground, radon gas can be carried
in the water to your tap. When well water is agitated
at warm temperatures in the home, radon is released into
the air. When you shower, bathe or simply run the tap,
the radon in the water is liberated into the air, forming
radon gas that can be inhaled in. According to the EPA,
radon levels in ground water are highest in New England
and the Appalachian uplands of the Mid-Atlantic and Southern
States. Certain areas around the Rocky Mountains, California,
Texas and the upper Midwest also have elevated levels
of radon in the ground water. These areas are most likely
to have elevated radon in water levels, but radon in water
can occur anywhere in the US. How do
I test for radon in my water?
Testing for radon in your water is actually quite simple.
Simply order a Radon In Water test kit from PRO-LAB. We'll
send you a kit that has everything you need to take a
water sample for radon analysis. You will receive special
containers that you fill with water samples and mail back
to PRO-LAB. In a couple of days, we'll send you a report
detailing the radon content of your water. If
I have radon in my water, what should I do?
Simple aeration removes up to 99% of radon from water.
Radon is rarely a problem in public systems because the
water is aerated during water treatment. Unfortunately,
this does not occur in water being drawn from a private
well. Aeration treatment equipment aerates the water,
then vents the gas to the outside. This treatment option
requires that the gas be vented above the roof line, otherwise
the gas may enter the home. Another option is granular
activated carbon filtration. In this type of treatment,
the water is filtered through carbon which adsorbs the
radon. This type of filter requires relatively large amounts
of carbon and a long contact time to be efficient. The
carbon from a radon filtration system may have to be handled
specially for disposal since the potential build up of
radioactivity can make it hazardous. |
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