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RADIUM
INFORMATION
We want to let you know what's going on
in the water industry, and more particularly in Monroe, with regard to radium.
There have been several newspaper articles about finding radium in wells of
nearby towns. In the spirit of open dialogue, and not to alarm you but to answer
questions you might have, we are providing this Q & A:
What
is radium, and how does it get into the water supply?
Will
drinking or bathing in water containing radium cause any negative health
effects?
What's
the safe MCL, and how does our water measure up?
What
is the MTMUA doing to ensure water quality?
Should
I buy bottled water instead of drinking tap water?
What
about people in Monroe who have private wells?
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What
is radium and how does it get into a water supply?
Radium is a metallic element which occurs naturally
within the ground. As it decays, it produces radon gas and alpha rays. If
a well draws water from a layer of sand which contains radium, it will
produce water containing alpha rays and sometimes radon gas.return to top
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Will
drinking or bathing in water containing radium cause any negative health
effects?
Long term exposure to sufficient quantities of radium or
radon gas can cause adverse health effects. The United States
Environmental Protection Agency has established a safe level of radium in
drinking water above which is considered an unacceptable health risk.
If a person consumes two liters (roughly ½ gallon) per
day of water containing radium above this level each day for 70 years (an
average lifetime), then the risk of cancer from this exposure is 1 person
in a population of 10,000. return to top
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What's
the safe MCL level and how does our water measure up?
The MCL (maximum contaminant level) for total gross
alpha count is 15 pico curies per Liter (pc/L).
The MCL for a combined radium 216 and radium 228
is 5 pico curies/per Liter (pc/L). The MTMUA's water supply has
historically tested negligible for radium. The New Jersey
Department of Environmental Protection has found that the change they made in the
testing procedure typically results in higher levels of radium and gross
alpha rays being detected. However, the water is no different than it always has
been; only the measurement techniques have changed. return to top
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What
is Monroe Township doing to ensure water quality?
Two of our wells, when
pumping together, have slightly higher readings than the Maximum
Contaminant Level (MCL) for combined radium 226/228 of 5 pci/l (a
running annual average of 5.6 pci/l for wells 17/19). The wells in
question, Wells #17 and #19, are no longer being used as a potable
(drinking) water source. Well #17 now feeds a separate and non-potable
irrigation system, and Well #19 is not being used at all. Since
these wells are no longer being utilized as a potable water source,
there is no longer a health concern and, therefore, consulting your
doctor is not necessary.
Meanwhile, we will rely heavily on those wells
exhibiting lower gross alpha counts and our surface water interconnection
with Elizabethtown Water Company for your peace of mind. CH2M
Hill will, as part of their study provide the MTMUA with alternatives for
drilling deeper wells, retrofitting various additional treatment measures
and/or blending, and their costs — both capital and annual.
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Should
I buy bottled water instead of drinking tap water?
No, there is no guarantee that the bottled water you buy
is any lower in radium than the tap water. Tap water is subject to more
stringent monitoring requirements than bottled water. Remember, the water
in the distribution system and hence at your tap is at a safe level. Even
if radium had been found above the MCL, it would take a lifetime (70
years) of consumption to raise the cancer risk by 1 in 10,000. This is not
something to cause immediate concern. We will move expeditiously to effect
a remedy on our effected wells based on the CH2M Hill study. return to top
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What
about people in Monroe who have private wells?
It is recommended that homeowners have their private
domestic wells tested for radium just as a precautionary measure. In this
matter, the MTMUA will coordinate on behalf of Monroe Township with
Richard Spilatore from the Middlesex County Health Department to have a
water sample(s) collected from interested private well-owners. A
laboratory certified by the NJDEP will perform a gross alpha particle
screening test to check for radium. The cost for each sample collected
from a domestic well in Monroe Township will be $120.
If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate
to call John Stevens, the MTMUA's N.J.-licensed Superintendent of Potable
Water, at (732) 521-1700. If you have questions about your private well,
call Richard Spilatore at (732) 745-4375.
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