Radium, combined (-226 & -228)
Status: National drinking water standard exists
Radium is a radioactive element that causes bone cancer and other cancers. It can occur naturally in groundwater, and oil and gas extraction activities such as hydraulic fracturing can elevate concentrations. Read More.
Radium releases radioactive particles that harm health in many ways, causing tumors in bone, lungs and other organs; leukemia; and skin and blood damage. Water utilities typically report radium amounts in picocuries per liter (pCi/L), which is a measure of radioactivity in water. The two most common forms of radium are radium-226 and radium-228. They may be reported separately or together.
Federal law allows up to 5 picocuries per liter of combined radium-226 and radium-228 in tap water. Research by the U.S. Geological Survey shows that in some regions of the country, such as the mid-continental region and North Atlantic coastal region, more than 20 percent of sampled wells have radium in levels exceeding the federal drinking water limit. And the legal limit does not equate safety: The EPA estimates that one in every 10,000 people drinking water containing radium at this level would develop cancer over a lifetime.
California set a public health goal much lower than the federal limit - 0.019 picocuries per liter of radium-226 and 0.05 picocuries per liter of radium-228, concentrations that are lower than the detection limit for most water tests.
2012-2017:
49
states detected
24,244
utilities detected
156 million
people served
49
states over health guideline
24,223
utilities over health guideline
153 million
people served over health guideline
33
states over legal limit
195
utilities over legal limit
437,000
people served over legal limit
Health concerns for radium, combined (-226 & -228)
Cancer
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
EWG Health Guideline 0.05 pCi/L
EWG applied the health guideline of 0.05 pCi/L, defined by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment as a public health goal for radium-226, to radium-226 and radium-228 combined. This health guideline protects against cancer.
EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 5 pCi/L
The legal limit for combined radium-226 and radium-228, established in 1976, was based on costs for radium removal, as calculated at the time that the standard was set. This limit does not fully protect against the risk of cancer due to radium exposure.
pCi/L = picocuries per liter
States reporting radium, combined (-226 & -228) in drinking water
| UTILITIES REPORTING ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES | UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Utilities | People Served | Utilities | People Served | |||
| Texas | 3,334 | 18,272,162 | 3,274 | 18,246,886 | |||
| Florida | 842 | 14,107,477 | 842 | 14,107,477 | |||
| California | 437 | 11,204,738 | 467 | 12,431,577 | |||
| Illinois | 1,454 | 11,504,893 | 1,319 | 9,628,413 | |||
| New York | 1,104 | 8,411,517 | 1,112 | 8,404,443 | |||
| Massachusetts | 448 | 5,908,312 | 449 | 5,908,326 | |||
| Arizona | 266 | 4,871,456 | 273 | 5,646,791 | |||
| Tennessee | 323 | 5,448,713 | 314 | 5,467,285 | |||
| New Jersey | 409 | 5,117,843 | 409 | 5,116,095 | |||
| Michigan | 753 | 4,790,740 | 757 | 4,785,598 | |||
| Colorado | 436 | 4,007,342 | 438 | 4,008,610 | |||
| Virginia | 644 | 3,957,662 | 646 | 3,974,270 | |||
| Georgia | 598 | 3,963,920 | 597 | 3,963,015 | |||
| Wisconsin | 947 | 3,842,129 | 950 | 3,842,964 | |||
| Louisiana | 535 | 3,231,669 | 533 | 3,488,742 | |||
| Kentucky | 273 | 3,279,590 | 270 | 3,276,132 | |||
| Pennsylvania | 732 | 3,228,776 | 732 | 3,229,809 | |||
| Alabama | 189 | 3,018,286 | 192 | 3,187,475 | |||
| Utah | 368 | 2,950,981 | 372 | 2,951,832 | |||
| Maryland | 142 | 2,942,809 | 143 | 2,951,249 | |||
| Ohio | 367 | 2,517,330 | 371 | 2,585,713 | |||
| Indiana | 215 | 2,267,962 | 213 | 2,254,930 | |||
| Nevada | 127 | 865,183 | 131 | 2,216,606 | |||
| North Carolina | 708 | 2,163,262 | 710 | 2,195,724 | |||
| Minnesota | 431 | 2,174,931 | 431 | 2,174,931 | |||
| New Mexico | 443 | 1,725,452 | 528 | 1,819,801 | |||
| Oklahoma | 550 | 1,688,396 | 552 | 1,697,390 | |||
| Nebraska | 503 | 1,539,959 | 501 | 1,542,725 | |||
| Washington | 642 | 1,309,832 | 664 | 1,457,596 | |||
| Missouri | 431 | 1,053,564 | 442 | 1,386,265 | |||
| Idaho | 460 | 1,109,254 | 479 | 1,135,454 | |||
| Oregon | 201 | 1,029,680 | 201 | 1,029,680 | |||
| West Virginia | 294 | 1,020,300 | 285 | 1,022,019 | |||
| Kansas | 530 | 1,022,446 | 523 | 1,016,572 | |||
| Iowa | 557 | 995,779 | 548 | 991,378 | |||
| Delaware | 188 | 942,122 | 197 | 947,404 | |||
| New Hampshire | 547 | 790,840 | 549 | 793,533 | |||
| Arkansas | 322 | 750,765 | 330 | 769,862 | |||
| South Carolina | 153 | 563,591 | 155 | 669,668 | |||
| Alaska | 296 | 615,598 | 323 | 643,581 | |||
| Connecticut | 144 | 557,725 | 145 | 560,822 | |||
| Mississippi | 184 | 484,518 | 208 | 559,557 | |||
| Montana | 486 | 409,513 | 492 | 451,109 | |||
| Wyoming | 273 | 417,904 | 250 | 408,391 | |||
| North Dakota | 234 | 391,346 | 224 | 381,653 | |||
| Vermont | 240 | 346,002 | 231 | 343,510 | |||
| Maine | 259 | 217,883 | 266 | 226,060 | |||
| South Dakota | 184 | 200,430 | 186 | 200,851 | |||
| Rhode Island | 20 | 158,839 | 20 | 158,839 | |||
Filtering technologies that reduce radium, combined (-226 & -228)
Reverse Osmosis
Ion Exchange
Utilities with the highest amounts of radium, combined (-226 & -228), 2012-2017
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patterson Valley Water Company | Rocky Ford, CO | 5 of 5 | 22.38 pCi/L | 120 |
| South Council Creek 2 | Austin, TX | 4 of 4 | 21.90 pCi/L | 111 |
| South Silver Creek I II & III | Austin, TX | 24 of 24 | 19.28 pCi/L | 258 |
| City of Brady Water System* | Brady, TX | 121 of 121 | 17.13 pCi/L | 5,500 |
| Fayette Water Company | Manzanola, CO | 6 of 6 | 16.65 pCi/L | 75 |
| Eureka Water Company | Swink, CO | 6 of 6 | 16.40 pCi/L | 498 |
| South Swink Water Company | La Junta, CO | 12 of 12 | 15.08 pCi/L | 600 |
| Vroman Water Company | Manzanola, CO | 7 of 7 | 13.57 pCi/L | 125 |
| Valley Water Company | Manzanola, CO | 12 of 12 | 13.39 pCi/L | 270 |
| Ranch Water Service Inc. | Kingman, AZ | 24 of 24 | 13.15 pCi/L | 135 |
| Lakeland Services | Brady, TX | 23 of 23 | 13.15 pCi/L | 53 |
| Tanglewood Forest Subdivision | Livingston, TX | 20 of 20 | 12.79 pCi/L | 86 |
| Live Oak Hills Subdivision | Llano, TX | 24 of 24 | 12.79 pCi/L | 70 |
| Monterey Rural Water System Inc. | Monterey, LA | 10 of 10 | 12.70 pCi/L | 5,250 |
| Mountain Top Ws | Indialantic, GA | 9 of 9 | 12.49 pCi/L | 121 |
| Cws Peachtree Acres | Columbia, SC | 10 of 10 | 12.40 pCi/L | 119 |
| Peak View Park Llc | Woodland Park, CO | 3 of 3 | 12.07 pCi/L | 70 |
| Farmington | Farmington, MO | 1 of 1 | 11.50 pCi/L | 19,351 |
| Gator Wilderness Camp School | Punta Gorda, FL | 26 of 26 | 11.08 pCi/L | 44 |
| Killington Center Inn | Killington, VT | 2 of 2 | 11.05 pCi/L | 75 |
| Champion Farms Subdivision | Troy, MO | 16 of 16 | 10.96 pCi/L | 30 |
| Downsville Sanitary District | Downsville, WI | 2 of 2 | 10.45 pCi/L | 250 |
| Signal Mountain Ranch Property Owners Water Company | Beulah, CO | 14 of 14 | 10.42 pCi/L | 66 |
| Perry County Public Water Supply District 1 | Perryville, MO | 15 of 15 | 10.05 pCi/L | 1,970 |
| May Valley Wa | Wiley, CO | 42 of 42 | 9.96 pCi/L | 1,500 |
| Lake Texoma Vfw Post 7873 | Pottsboro, TX | 24 of 24 | 9.84 pCi/L | 114 |
| Tempe Water Supply Corporation 1 | Moscow, TX | 46 of 48 | 9.82 pCi/L | 1,704 |
| Mineral Point PWS | Mineral Point, MO | 17 of 17 | 9.78 pCi/L | 359 |
| Vista Verde Water Systems | Kirbyville, TX | 24 of 24 | 9.22 pCi/L | 111 |
| Rainbow Nursing Home Inc. | Pittsgrove, NJ | 16 of 16 | 9.21 pCi/L | 259 |
| North Holbrook Water Company | Rocky Ford, CO | 6 of 6 | 9.13 pCi/L | 75 |
| Denali - Rock Creek Hq. | Denali Park, AK | 2 of 2 | 9.10 pCi/L | 220 |
| Conroe Oaks | Houston, TX | 24 of 24 | 8.90 pCi/L | 90 |
| Marshview Terrace | Waupun, WI | 8 of 12 | 8.49 pCi/L | 40 |
| Cookson Hills Christian School | Kansas, OK | 25 of 26 | 8.43 pCi/L | 150 |
| City of Melvin | Melvin, TX | 38 of 38 | 8.40 pCi/L | 300 |
| Welch Public Works Authority | Welch, OK | 21 of 21 | 8.28 pCi/L | 800 |
| Highland Court | Dallas, TX | 24 of 24 | 8.26 pCi/L | 90 |
| Leadwood PWS | Leadwood, MO | 13 of 13 | 8.01 pCi/L | 1,300 |
| Rosewood Hills Property Homeowners Association | Woodland Park, CO | 1 of 1 | 8.00 pCi/L | 135 |
| Rochelle Water Supply Corporation | Rochelle, TX | 24 of 24 | 7.90 pCi/L | 372 |
| Allouez Waterworks | Green Bay, WI | 2 of 2 | 7.89 pCi/L | 13,932 |
| White Tail Ridge Lakes Estates | Livingston, TX | 25 of 25 | 7.86 pCi/L | 213 |
| Fox Lawn Utilities Company Inc. | Yorkville, IL | 23 of 23 | 7.84 pCi/L | 273 |
| Thornhill Condos | Hampton, NH | 1 of 1 | 7.80 pCi/L | 175 |
| Cedar Gulch II | Rapid City, SD | 2 of 6 | 7.70 pCi/L | 27 |
| Superior Water Company Cpf | Gilbertsville, PA | 2 of 2 | 7.57 pCi/L | 500 |
| Lake Arrowhead Subdivision | Waleska, GA | 9 of 12 | 7.55 pCi/L | 3,120 |
| Cheraw, Town of | Cheraw, CO | 6 of 6 | 7.55 pCi/L | 254 |
| Malaga Villa Apartments | Summit, NJ | 13 of 13 | 7.55 pCi/L | 100 |
* This water utility supplies finished drinking water to at least one other water utility. The purchasing utility is not required to test for or report Radium, combined (-226 & -228), but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Farmington | Farmington, MO | 1 of 1 | 11.50 pCi/L | 19,351 |
| Allouez Waterworks | Green Bay, WI | 2 of 2 | 7.89 pCi/L | 13,932 |
| Andover | Andover, MN | 32 of 34 | 7.51 pCi/L | 19,310 |
| Winona | Winona, MN | 20 of 20 | 7.38 pCi/L | 27,782 |
| Bellevue Waterworks | Green Bay, WI | 1 of 2 | 7.08 pCi/L | 15,365 |
| City of Abbeville Water System | Abbeville, LA | 4 of 6 | 6.97 pCi/L | 15,012 |
| Franklin Water Utility | Franklin, WI | 1 of 1 | 6.56 pCi/L | 22,500 |
| Delta Charter Township | Lansing, MI | 34 of 34 | 6.48 pCi/L | 22,000 |
| Ashwaubenon Waterworks* | Green Bay, WI | 3 of 3 | 6.38 pCi/L | 17,730 |
| Waukesha Water Utility | Waukesha, WI | 133 of 133 | 5.95 pCi/L | 70,718 |
| Sussex Village Hall & Water Utility | Sussex, WI | 76 of 76 | 5.67 pCi/L | 10,573 |
| Inver Grove Heights* | Inver Grove Heights, MN | 12 of 12 | 5.48 pCi/L | 34,189 |
| Fort Dodge Water Supply | Fort Dodge, IA | 11 of 11 | 5.25 pCi/L | 25,206 |
| Faribault | Faribault, MN | 4 of 4 | 4.65 pCi/L | 23,415 |
| Lugoff Elgin Water Authority | Lugoff, SC | 1 of 1 | 4.60 pCi/L | 19,671 |
| Howard Waterworks | Green Bay, WI | 11 of 11 | 4.44 pCi/L | 18,900 |
| Marion Municipal Water Department* | Marion, IA | 13 of 13 | 4.44 pCi/L | 34,610 |
| Naval Air Station Pensacola / Corry Station | Nas Pensacola, FL | 30 of 30 | 4.29 pCi/L | 22,600 |
| North Mankato | North Mankato, MN | 22 of 22 | 4.26 pCi/L | 13,462 |
| Western Springs | Western Springs, IL | 3 of 3 | 4.23 pCi/L | 11,984 |
| Kaukauna Utilities | Kaukauna, WI | 21 of 23 | 4.22 pCi/L | 13,430 |
| Michigan State University | East Lansing, MI | 74 of 74 | 4.11 pCi/L | 13,900 |
| Wentzville | Wentzville, MO | 1 of 1 | 4.10 pCi/L | 31,000 |
| Emerald Coast Utilities Authority* | Pensacola, FL | 30 of 30 | 4.07 pCi/L | 249,872 |
| North Aurora* | North Aurora, IL | 18 of 20 | 4.06 pCi/L | 13,764 |
| Coon Rapids | Coon Rapids, MN | 18 of 18 | 4.03 pCi/L | 61,476 |
| Milan Water Department | Milan, TN | 2 of 2 | 4.01 pCi/L | 10,476 |
| Anoka | Anoka, MN | 12 of 12 | 4.01 pCi/L | 17,243 |
| Burnsville* | Burnsville, MN | 4 of 4 | 3.95 pCi/L | 61,262 |
| City of Laurinburg* | Laurinburg, NC | 2 of 2 | 3.90 pCi/L | 17,242 |
| Virginia-American Water Company* | Alexandria, VA | 2 of 2 | 3.90 pCi/L | 28,000 |
| Peru | Peru, IL | 8 of 8 | 3.90 pCi/L | 11,000 |
| Manchester Twp Water Utility - Eastern* | Manchester Twp, NJ | 11 of 12 | 3.88 pCi/L | 21,200 |
| Darboy Sanitary District 1 | Appleton, WI | 8 of 9 | 3.87 pCi/L | 12,000 |
| Minnetonka | Minnetonka, MN | 24 of 24 | 3.79 pCi/L | 50,747 |
| Waupun Utilities | Waupun, WI | 17 of 17 | 3.75 pCi/L | 11,340 |
| Epcor Water - Anthem* | Youngtown, AZ | 2 of 2 | 3.75 pCi/L | 25,302 |
| De Pere Water Department | De Pere, WI | 19 of 25 | 3.71 pCi/L | 23,920 |
| Perth Amboy Water Department | Perth Amboy, NJ | 2 of 2 | 3.65 pCi/L | 52,328 |
| South Saint Paul | South St. Paul, MN | 22 of 22 | 3.63 pCi/L | 20,250 |
| Yorkville | Yorkville, IL | 37 of 37 | 3.57 pCi/L | 11,404 |
| Loves Park | Loves Park, IL | 49 of 50 | 3.55 pCi/L | 22,476 |
| Freeport | Freeport, IL | 13 of 13 | 3.54 pCi/L | 26,443 |
| Merchantville Pennsauken | Pennsauken, NJ | 14 of 14 | 3.51 pCi/L | 47,144 |
| Gloucester City W Department | Gloucester City, NJ | 1 of 1 | 3.50 pCi/L | 12,460 |
| Lauderdale County Water System | Ripley, TN | 2 of 2 | 3.50 pCi/L | 11,246 |
| Sycamore | Sycamore, IL | 41 of 41 | 3.50 pCi/L | 14,000 |
| Ottawa* | Ottawa, IL | 25 of 26 | 3.50 pCi/L | 18,307 |
| Brookfield Water Utility | Brookfield, WI | 76 of 76 | 3.50 pCi/L | 29,070 |
| Benton City WSC | Lytle, TX | 13 of 13 | 3.49 pCi/L | 17,292 |
* This water utility supplies finished drinking water to at least one other water utility. The purchasing utility is not required to test for or report Radium, combined (-226 & -228), but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.