Professional Testing and Mitigation of Radon in Water

Let us identify and reduce radon levels in your home's water supply

Water can transport radon to areas of your home that may otherwise be a safe distance from radon-rich soils and foundations. Health risks are associated with drinking radon-contaminated water, such as stomach cancer, but the real danger is breathing radon gas that evaporates into the air.

Here in Northeastern Georgia, wells drilled into granitic crystalline rock aquifers are at risk of naturally occurring radon contamination. This is where the uranium that decays to radon can be found at higher levels. Private wells should be tested for radon regularly, as contaminants in well water can change over time. 

Georgia Radon Defense offers reliable testing and mitigation of radon in water. This includes services for private wells in Hull, Danielsville, Covington, Monroe, Lavonia, Gainesville, Flowery Branch, as well as homes supplied by public water in Athens, Winder, Gainesville, and surrounding areas. We are a certified member of the nationally recognized National Radon Defense network of contractors that homeowners trust to protect their homes against radon.

How Water Source and Usage Affects Radon Levels

Groundwater sources, such as wells, are dangerously close to bedrock, where radon leaches out and accumulates. Wells often contain the highest concentrations because there is no space for radon gas to freely evaporate, and it dissolves into the water. In addition to location, geologic shifts and climate conditions around the source can affect radon in water levels.

If you have an issue with home radon from water, 10,000 pCi/L of radon inside your water supply can contribute to 1 pCi/L in the air you breathe. Once the water has entered your home, there are many factors that can affect how much or how quickly radon gas is released:

Testing for Radon in Water

You can't fix a radon problem if you don't know you have one. Georgia Radon Defense has certified Radon Measurement Specialists who will personally retrieve samples of your water and send them to a lab, where they are processed within 48 hours.

What do these results mean?

While ingesting radon in water poses similar yet reduced risks of cancer, radon gas that evaporates out is the main concern. For context, water with radon levels of 4,000 pCi/L can contribute to .4 pCi/L of airborne radon gas in your home. There are three levels of severity used to indicate airborne radon levels:

• High: 4.0 pCi/L and above
• Moderate, 2.0 - 4.0 pCi/L
• Low, 2.0 pCi/L and below

While there is no current federal maximum contamination limit (MCL) for radon in water, the EPA has suggested an MCL of 300pCi/L for public water supplies or 4,000 pCi/L in cities that have implemented their own radon in water mitigation programs. Our experienced team can help explain how your radon in water test results may relate to your indoor air quality.

Interpreting Radon in Water Test Results

Radon in water can pose a significant health risk from both ingestion and inhalation. The University of Georgia has the following recommendation when interpreting radon in water results:

• 100 pCi /L: The radioactivity from radon in this water is similar to the normal background level and poses no health risk from radon due to ingestion.
• 100 - 300 pCi/L: The radioactivity from radon in this water is 'slightly elevated' but poses no significant health risk from radon due to ingestion.
• 301 - 4,000 pCi/L: The radioactivity from radon in this water may pose some health risks due to ingestion.
• 4,000 pCi/L: The radioactivity from radon in this water poses a significant health risk due to ingestion and may additionally result in a significant increase in indoor air radon concentrations.

Strategies for Radon Mitigation in Water

There are two methods for removing radon gas from water: Aeration and Granular Activated Carbon (GAC). Both systems are very effective, but aeration is preferable for higher levels of radioactivity because it allows the radon to escape the water and vent safely into the atmosphere. A GAC system collects the radon and radon decay products, trapping them in the filter media. The filter itself will become radioactive, producing gamma radiation outside the filter. The higher the radon in water, the more radioactive the filter will become.

We always recommend Aeration as a primary mitigation strategy for radon in water, but Granular Activated Carbon may be used when radon levels are below 10,000 pCi/L.

Get started with a free quote from Georgia Radon Defense

Homeowners trust us to provide reliable testing and mitigation of radon in water. Call 1-706-389-9603 or click below to get a no-obligation radon in water testing and mitigation quote for your home's water supply! We proudly serve Northeastern Georgia, including Athens, Winder, Gainesville, Hull, Danielsville, Covington, Monroe, Lavonia, Gainesville, Flowery Branch, and surrounding areas.

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