Radium in Drinking Water DG008 2020
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How does radium get into the Public Water Systems with water supply? BAYFIELD Gross Alpha and Combined Radium DOUGLAS ASHLAND Radium Exceedances IRON Radium naturally occurs in some of Wisconsin’s groundwater. Northern VILAS Nearly 70% of Wisconsin residents receive drinking water WASHBURN SAWYER in from groundwater resources. Groundwater moves slowly PRICE FOREST ONEIDA FLORENCE through the pores and cracks in underground layers of BURNETT POLK BARRON RUSK unconsolidated material and rock called aquifers. As it moves LINCOLN LANGLADE MARINETTE Drinking through the aquifer, minerals and other elements, including TAYLOR radium, can be dissolved out of the rock into the groundwater. OCONTO CHIPPEWA Some rock more effectively transfers radium into groundwater ST. CROIX DUNN Northeast MARATHON MENOMINEE than others. Eventually, the water can be drawn into nearby West Central CLARK PIERCE EAU CLAIRE drinking water wells as the water is extracted. DOOR Water PEPIN E WOOD PORTAGE WAUPACA SHAWANO BUFFALO OUTAGAMIE KEWAUNE JACKSON TREMPEALEAU BROWN What makes a well likely to have JUNEAU ADAMS WAUSHARA WINNEBAGO MANITOWOC Current MONROE T LA CROSSE high levels of radium? Exceedance MARQUETTE GREEN CALUME LAKE This brochure describes the FOND DU LAC Exceeds VERNON presence of radium in Wisconsin’s Location may be the biggest factor in determining if a well is combined radium SHEBOYGAN Exceeds gross alpha Southeast drinking water supplies, information likely to have a high level of radium present. In Wisconsin, the CRAWFORD SAUKCOLUMBIA DODGE Exceeds both RICHLAND WASHING- on basic requirements of public highest radium levels occur in water from two types of rock TON South Central OZAUKEE Historical DANE aquifers; the deep sandstone in Wisconsin’s eastern quarter JEFFERSON WAUKESHA water supplies, recommendations for Exceedances IOWA and the crystalline granite rock found in the north central Exceeds combined GRANT private well water, an introduction to MILWAUKEE radium GREEN ROCK WALWORTH RACINE potential health effects and where to part of the state. Wells located in these aquifers may be most LAFAYETTE likely to contain elevated levels of radium. However, elevated Exceeds gross alpha KENOSHA find out more detailed information. Exceeds both radium may also occur in other areas if conditions are right. June 2013 What is radium? A picocurie is a measurement describing the rate of What are the health risks of radium radioactive decay. Naturally occurring radium (Ra) is a radioactive in drinking water? In addition, all public water systems are required to complete element contained in many rock formations, a Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) each year. CCR’s must usually in small amounts. There are two forms The National Academy of Sciences has concluded that include information on all regulated contaminants found of radium that can most likely be transferred long-term exposure to elevated levels of radium in drinking in the drinking water system throughout the year. If you from the rock into Wisconsin (WI) groundwater: water may result in an increased risk of bone cancer. When would like to view your community’s CCR, contact your local Ra-226 and Ra-228. As they naturally break ingested into the body from drinking water, radium can water supplier or visit the Wisconsin Department of Natural down over time, (a process called radioactive accumulate in the bones; just like calcium does from milk. Resources (DNR) website dnr.wi.gov, Search: Drinking decay), they give off different types of radioactive When consumed in high doses, or at a lower dose extended Water Select the Water Quality Data link where you may particles. Ra-226 gives off alpha particles; Ra- over a lifetime, the risk increases. The background exposure search for public water systems by city or system name. 228 gives off beta particles. However chemically, risk from other radioactive elements in food, in the air, they both behave like calcium and magnesium, etc. was considered in setting the radium drinking water Private Wells the two major components of water hardness. standard. Your local Public Health Department or family Radium in drinking water cannot be seen, doctor is the best resource for determining how important tasted, or smelled.* Water must be tested Under the requirements of the federal Safe the risk of exposure may be to your overall health. Drinking Water Act (SDWA), all community public to detect the presence of radium. Although water systems must routinely monitor their water the radium drinking water standard is not source(s) for certain radioactive substances, How can I find out if my water is enforceable for private well owners, the same health called radionuclide indicator parameters. When safe to drink? risks apply. Private well owners are responsible for the elevated levels of these indicator parameters safety of their own water supply and taking action to reduce elevated radium levels may be recommended. are discovered, additional testing is required to Public Water Supplies measure the actual levels of Ra-226 and Ra-228. All community public water systems are In Wisconsin, private wells are not usually drilled into required to notify consumers, on a quarterly the deeper geologic formations containing higher Produced by Department of Natural Resources in basis, if any contaminant, including radium, concentrations of radium. Nevertheless, radium has cooperation with the State Department of Health Services. goes above the maximum contaminant level been found in a small number of private drinking water Reviewed by the GCC Education Subcommittee. (MCL) allowed by the federal and state drinking supplies. Concerned owners whose wells have not been water codes. The MCL for combined Ra-226 and tested may wish to contact the regional office of the DNR Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for an estimate of approximate radioactivity levels, based Bureau of Drinking Water & Groundwater Ra-228 is currently 5 pCi/l (picocuries per liter of water). on available geologic data and previous well sampling. Owners should have the well’s location and construction What solutions are available for Contact Us information available for DNR staff. A federally certified private well owners? laboratory can perform a detailed analysis of water samples Customer Service Staff are here to assist you. for radium. Water sample bottles, testing instructions Private well owners are encouraged to have their well How may we help you? and radium analyses are available for a fee from the only water tested if they live in areas known to have high certified radiological lab in the state: The Wisconsin State radium levels in groundwater. In most cases owners will Call Toll Free 1-888-WDNRINFO (1-888-936-7463) Lab of Hygiene, (608) 224-6202 or 1-800-442-4618. be advised to reconstruct or replace the well in order to Or, go to dnr.wi.gov, Search: Contact obtain water with a lower radium content. Another option Click on one of the following options: * Despite the fact that radium can not be detected by sight, may be for the homeowner to purchase a Wisconsin taste or smell, private well owners are encouraged to test their Chat with customer service. Department of Safety and Professional Services approved water supply if changes do occur. A change in color, odor, Call a representative. water treatment system. A list of approved water or taste can be indicative of other water quality changes. In treatment devices and the contaminants they remove is Email your question. these instances, well owners may want to use an alternate safe available at dsps.wi.gov/php/sb-ppalopp/contam_alpha_ drinking water source until you can have your water tested. Toll free hotlines list.php. However, because water softeners and other treatment systems vary in their ability to remove different Violation Hotline: 1-800-TIP-WDNR or What can be done if a community well types of contaminants, well owners should proceed phone 1-800-847-9367 cautiously before installing a home water treatment unit. contains elevated radium? Confidentially report If the well serves the public, such as a suspected wildlife, Communities have several options to reduce or eliminate restaurant or daycare, then prior written recreational and the presence of radium in their drinking water supplies if it approval from the DNR is required for environmental exceeds the MCL. These options include but are not limited the specific installation. All well owners violations. to the following: whose wells have radium above the MCL are encouraged to contact the regional office of the Emergency Blend high radium water with water from sources Spill Hotline: containing lower levels of radium. DNR for assistance. To learn more about the approval process or to receive a list of home units approved for 1-800-943-0003 phone Find an alternative water supply or construct radium removal, contact your regional drinking water & a new well into a low radium aquifer. groundwater specialist or call (608) 266-1054. Soften or apply another effective radium removal Bilingual Services are available treatment technique to the water supply. Where can I get more information? Drinking Water & Groundwater Program The DNR and the water system owner will work together 101 S. Webster to develop a plan to bring the community public Information on radium in drinking water P.O. Box 7921 water system back into compliance with Wisconsin Madison, WI 53707-7921 and groundwater resources (608) 266-1054 Administrative Code and SDWA requirements. Since Visit dnr.wi.gov, Search: Drinking