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Radon In Your Water

Treatment: Aeration system

Radon in water is treated in one of two ways: A Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) system or an Aeration system. The type of treatment that is needed is dictated by the concentration of the radon in water. 

If the radon in water levels are 4,000 pCi/L or lower, GAC is a practical option. GAC treatment generally costs less than Aeration, but the carbon tanks require periodic replacement when they have been saturated with radiation and can present eventual disposal issues. The radon in water reduction associated to GAC filtration is typically a 50-80% reduction.

If the radon in water levels are above 4,000 pCi/L, an Aeration system is needed. The radon in water reduction associated to Aeration is very high, typically a 98-99% reduction. As the water is aerated, radon is bubbled up and is vented to the outside of the house above the roofline. The clean water overflows the brim of the cup, and a built-in pump automatically delivers radon free water to your home.

It is important to have annual service on either type of equipment to ensure proper function (and to monitor the saturation of GAC tanks). A radon in water sample should also be collected before and after the treatment system each year at the time of service.

An excerpt from the publication Radon Today dated Spring Issue 2007 Drink Up

Okay, not that I think that radon gets a lot of attention period, but radon in water? Forget about it. Well, at least there are people who care. Witness the fact that there was a conference sponsored by the National Ground Water Association (NGWA). The conference was held on March 22nd and 23rd at the Charleston Riverview Hotel in Charleston, SC. The conference focused on various aspects of naturally occurring water contaminants which are: arsenic, radium, radon and uranium. The topics were as varied as the contaminants and included risk assessment and disposal issues, system design options and operating costs. David Hill from Spruce Environmental addressed the topic Radon in Water: Sources and Solutions. David Grammer from RAdata, Inc. spoke about Health and Safety for Treatment Service Providers. And because this isn’t just an issue in the USA, there were speakers there from as far away as Finland and Portugal.