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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT Uranium in Drinking Water?
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How Does Uranium Get Into Drinking Water?
Uranium is a naturally occurring element in groundwater in some portions of Connecticut. However, there is little information on where uranium may be found. Uranium gets into drinking water when groundwater dissolves minerals that contain uranium. The amount of uranium in well water will vary depending upon its concentration in bedrock. However, even within areas that have bedrock types containing uranium, there is a large degree of variation within relatively small areas. Levels of naturally occurring radiation in water are not likely to be high in shallow wells. The potential exists for deep bedrock wells in Connecticut to have uranium, although most will be very low. High levels of uranium indicate the potential for radon and radium also to be present. |
How Can Uranium Affect My Health?
Naturally occurring uranium has very low levels of radioactivity. However, the chemical properties of uranium in drinking water are of greater concern than its radioactivity. Most ingested uranium is eliminated from the body. However, a small amount is absorbed and carried through the bloodstream. Studies show that drinking water with elevated levels of uranium can affect the kidneys over time. Bathing and showering with water that contains uranium is not a health concern. |
What Do The Results of My Water Test Mean?
The new federal standard, known as the maximum contaminant level (or MCL), for uranium in public water supplies is 30 mg/l (which is roughly equivalent to 30 pico Curies per liter). The testing and treatment requirements under this federal standard apply only to public water systems servicing residential populations and not to private home wells or public facilities such as schools that are not residences. Private well owners are not required
to follow this standard, but by following the recommendations below you can protect your family’s health. If your water test comes back with uranium results greater than 30 mg/l, you should look into obtaining treatment for your water. However, since results can vary widely from season to season, it is prudent to re-test whenever the results are above 10 mg/l. While water treatment is strongly recommended only at confirmed levels of 30 mg/l or
higher, some individuals on private wells may choose to increase their safety margin and treat water that contains lower levels (e.g., 10-30 mg/l). If you follow the screening protocol described above you will also have results for gross alpha and radium to evaluate. For the purposes of comparison it is best to compare these results to current standards for public water supplies.The current federal standard (MCL) for adjusted gross alpha (includes
radiation from radium but excludes radiation from radon and uranium) in public water supplies is 15 pCi/l. The current federal MCL for combined radium 226 and radium 228 in public water supplies is 5 pCi/l.
The new federal standard, known as the maximum contaminant level (or MCL), for uranium in public water supplies is 30 mg/l (which is roughly equivalent to 30 pico Curies per liter). The testing and treatment requirements under this federal standard apply only to public water systems servicing residential populations and not to private home wells or public facilities such as schools that are not residences. Private well owners are not required
to follow this standard, but by following the recommendations below you can protect your family’s health. If your water test comes back with uranium results greater than 30 mg/l, you should look into obtaining treatment for your water. However, since results can vary widely from season to season, it is prudent to re-test whenever the results are above 10 mg/l. While water treatment is strongly recommended only at confirmed levels of 30 mg/l or
higher, some individuals on private wells may choose to increase their safety margin and treat water that contains lower levels (e.g., 10-30 mg/l). If you follow the screening protocol described above you will also have results for gross alpha and radium to evaluate. For the purposes of comparison it is best to compare these results to current standards for public water supplies.The current federal standard (MCL) for adjusted gross alpha (includes
radiation from radium but excludes radiation from radon and uranium) in public water supplies is 15 pCi/l. The current federal MCL for combined radium 226 and radium 228 in public water supplies is 5 pCi/l.
What Type of Treatment Will Decrease Uranium in Well Water?
Water treatment systems can effectively remove uranium from drinking water. Two common methods are reverse osmosis and ion exchange. Reverse osmosis works by forcing water filtering through a membrane that prevents the uranium from passing through. This membrane should be replaced every 2 to 3 years. Ion exchange works by passing water through a system that replaces uranium with a safer compound. Both methods usually involve maintenance, including backwashing. Both methods involve costs and disposal systems that should be investigated carefully before choosing a system. Both systems also require periodic monitoring of the treated water to make sure they are working properly.
Water treatment systems can effectively remove uranium from drinking water. Two common methods are reverse osmosis and ion exchange. Reverse osmosis works by forcing water filtering through a membrane that prevents the uranium from passing through. This membrane should be replaced every 2 to 3 years. Ion exchange works by passing water through a system that replaces uranium with a safer compound. Both methods usually involve maintenance, including backwashing. Both methods involve costs and disposal systems that should be investigated carefully before choosing a system. Both systems also require periodic monitoring of the treated water to make sure they are working properly.