Radon in well water
I think I saw articles on radon in well water here, but couldn’t find them. Could you lead me to them and perhaps comment on my questions.
We have high radon levels in our well water. I am somewhat familiar with the two prominent methods of abatement. Am I correct in concluding that radon in water is safe to drink but may be a concern when the radon is released to the air when using faucets? And, is it safe to assume that showers and air tubs pose the greatest risk because of their greater potential for air release? And lastly; if an HRV is continuously used during showering, does that sufficiently mitigate the potentially higher levels of radon released to the air?
In summation, I would love to avoid the $4000.00 to $5000.00 installation cost and yearly maintenance costs of removing well water radon before the tap. Also hoping an HRV can be used as an alternative abatement method.
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Forgot to mention the exhaust vents to my HRV are in each bathroom and the overall cfm for the entire HRV is boosted to its maximum of 150 cfm during bathroom use. Obviously individual grilles moves less than the maximum.
Tom,
Here is a link to my recent article on radon: All About Radon.
Concerning radon in your well water: you may be worrying unnecessarily. According to the American Cancer Society, "For the most part, water does not contribute much to overall exposure to radon."
According to the EPA, "Only about 1-2 percent of radon in the air comes from drinking water."
Assessing the risk of radon in your well water is something that you have to do for yourself, based on your own circumstances, concerns, and research. But if you have elevated levels of radon in your home, it is probable that 98% to 99% of the radon is entering your home through cracks in your foundation.
By your response can I conclude that if my tested radon in our air is below 4, that I should be less concerned? I realize this a somewhat subjective decision based on my interpretation of the latest research. Do I need to test the 2nd floor if that is where our primary showering will take place?
Tom,
First, a disclaimer: I am not a radon expert.
Second, a reminder: only you can determine what exposure feels safe for your family.
Here is what the EPA says: "EPA has proposed to require community water suppliers to provide water with radon levels no higher than 4,000 pCi/L, which contributes about 0.4 pCi/L of radon to the air in your home."
Do you know the level of radon in your drinking water? Is it above or below the EPS's proposed maximum for community water supplies?
If the radon level of the air in your home is below 4 picocuries per liter, that's certainly reassuring.
According to the EPA's own report, even if you have water with a radon level of 4,000 pCi/L, it isn't adding much radon to your indoor air.