Radium, combined (-226 and -228)
Town of Ferriday Water System
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 – 0.05 picocuries per liter of radium-226 and 0.019 picocuries per liter of radium-228, concentrations that are lower than the detection limit for most water tests.
Samples
Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)
Samples exceeding
health guidelines
Testing results - average by year
| Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 0.64 pCi/L | 23 | 13 | ND - 1.70 pCi/L |
| 2019 | 0.80 pCi/L | 32 | 20 | ND - 2.26 pCi/L |
| 2020 | 0.41 pCi/L | 12 | 6 | ND - 1.15 pCi/L |
| 2021 | 0.11 pCi/L | 12 | 2 | ND - 0.67 pCi/L |
| 2022 | 0.65 pCi/L | 23 | 12 | ND - 2.79 pCi/L |
| 2023 | 0.40 pCi/L | 12 | 6 | ND - 1.06 pCi/L |
pCi/L = picocuries per liter
State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water
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
All test results
| Date | Lab ID | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-04-05 | 0.71 pCi/L | |
| 2018-04-05 | 2020519-RAW WATER: WELL #7 | 1.42 pCi/L |
| 2018-04-05 | 2020520-NELSON PL SCHOOL - 35 | ND |
| 2018-05-08 | 35391167001 | 0.79 pCi/L |
| 2018-05-08 | 35391167002 | ND |
| 2018-05-08 | 35391167001 | 0.79 pCi/L |
| 2018-05-08 | 35391167002 | ND |
| 2018-05-08 | 2020211-WELL 1 SOURCE WATER SA | ND |
| 2018-05-08 | 2020513-CAPE CODDER RESORT - 1 | ND |
| 2018-05-08 | 2020519-RAW WATER: STATION #1, | 0.79 pCi/L |
| 2018-05-08 | 2020624-FINISHED: OTIS STREET | ND |
| 2018-08-01 | 35408220001 | 1.70 pCi/L |
| 2018-08-01 | 35408220001 | 1.70 pCi/L |
| 2018-08-01 | 35408220001 | 1.70 pCi/L |
| 2018-08-01 | 35408220001 | 1.70 pCi/L |
| 2018-08-01 | 2020415-FINISHED ENTRY POINT: | 0.98 pCi/L |
| 2018-08-01 | 2020519-RAW WATER: WELL #7 | 0.73 pCi/L |
| 2018-08-01 | 202061-1057 NORTH WESTFIELD ST | 0.98 pCi/L |
| 2018-08-01 | 202061-SEEKONK WATER TREATMENT | 0.73 pCi/L |
| 2018-11-20 | 35432698002 | ND |
| 2018-11-20 | 35432698002 | ND |
| 2018-11-20 | 2020312-BRUCE CAHOON WTP | ND |
| 2018-11-20 | 2020529-FIRE DEPT HEADQUARTERS | ND |
| 2019-02-13 | 35449373001 | 0.72 pCi/L |
| 2019-02-13 | 35449373001 | 0.72 pCi/L |
| 2019-02-13 | 202041-RAW WATER: WELL #5 | ND |
| 2019-02-13 | 2020414-POINT OF ENTRY POST TR | 0.72 pCi/L |
| 2019-05-17 | 35470883002 | ND |
| 2019-05-17 | 35470883002 | ND |
| 2019-05-17 | 202057-JOB LANE SCHOOL | ND |
| 2019-05-17 | 2020616-SPECTACLE POND WTP (TR | ND |
| 2019-08-15 | 35491138001 | 1.46 pCi/L |
| 2019-08-15 | 35491138002 | 1.27 pCi/L |
| 2019-08-15 | 35491138003 | 2.26 pCi/L |
| 2019-08-15 | 35491138004 | 2.13 pCi/L |
| 2019-08-15 | 35491141001 | 0.72 pCi/L |
| 2019-08-15 | 35491138001 | 1.46 pCi/L |
| 2019-08-15 | 35491138002 | 1.27 pCi/L |
| 2019-08-15 | 35491138003 | 2.26 pCi/L |
| 2019-08-15 | 35491138004 | 2.13 pCi/L |
| 2019-08-15 | 35491141001 | 0.72 pCi/L |
| 2019-08-15 | 202018-855 BEDFORD STREET - WO | ND |
| 2019-08-15 | 2020218-70 WYNDHURST DR - 3RD | 1.12 pCi/L |
| 2019-08-15 | 202023-TWIN CITY ANIMAL HOSP-8 | 1.46 pCi/L |
| 2019-08-15 | 2020312-MARTHA'S WAY | ND |
| 2019-08-15 | 2020519-FILTRATION PLANT 6-7-9 | 0.72 pCi/L |
| 2019-08-15 | 2020519-WELL#1 | ND |
| 2019-08-15 | 202054-150 COMMONWEALTH RD (MI | 1.14 pCi/L |
| 2019-08-15 | 202054-WELL #3 PUMPHOUSE (AFTE | 0.78 pCi/L |
| 2019-08-15 | 202057-JOB LANE SCHOOL | 1.27 pCi/L |
| 2019-08-15 | 202069-WELL #3: RAW WATER | 1.36 pCi/L |
| 2019-12-11 | 35518404001 | ND |
| 2019-12-11 | 35518404001 | ND |
| 2019-12-11 | 2020212-SO. RIVER ST. WELL | ND |
| 2019-12-11 | 2020624-FINISHED: PIERCE SPRIN | ND |
| 2020-02-12 | 35530822001 | 0.19 pCi/L |
| 2020-02-12 | 2021628-WELL #1 AND WELL#2 | 0.19 pCi/L |
| 2020-02-12 | 202167-NUTTING RD WTP-FINISHED | ND |
| 2020-04-02 | 35541330001 | 1.10 pCi/L |
| 2020-04-02 | 202154-RAW: WOODBURY WELL #2 | ND |
| 2020-04-02 | 2021615-WELL #9 | 1.10 pCi/L |
| 2020-07-01 | 35560313001 | ND |
| 2020-07-01 | 2021413-BROCKTON RES. RAW | ND |
| 2020-07-01 | 202155-COHASSET WTP - FIN | ND |
| 2020-11-05 | 35590215001 | 1.15 pCi/L |
| 2020-11-05 | 2021518-HANOVER ST. WELL 1 | ND |
| 2020-11-05 | 2021623-RAW WATER: WELL #2 JER | 1.15 pCi/L |
| 2021-03-11 | 35619992001 | ND |
| 2021-03-11 | 2021122-CENTER STREET FIRE STA | ND |
| 2021-03-11 | 2021126-117 NEWBURY STREET | ND |
| 2021-05-13 | 35635178001 | ND |
| 2021-05-13 | 20211021-FURNACE BROOK #3 | ND |
| 2021-05-13 | 2021119-PLAIN ST FILTRATION PL | ND |
| 2021-08-03 | 35655111001 | 0.67 pCi/L |
| 2021-08-03 | 20211026-WELL # 1 | ND |
| 2021-08-03 | 2021126-WELLS #2 & #3 | 0.67 pCi/L |
| 2021-11-15 | 35678228001 | ND |
| 2021-11-15 | 20211014-STATION # 1 (01G)-END | ND |
| 2021-11-15 | 20211119-FINISHED: WOODBURY GP | ND |
| 2022-02-09 | 35696756001 | 0.81 pCi/L |
| 2022-02-09 | 202296-WEST PEABODY WTP - (2S, | ND |
| 2022-02-09 | 202297-FINISHED: FRUIT ST PUMP | 0.81 pCi/L |
| 2022-06-01 | 35722174002 | 0.76 pCi/L |
| 2022-06-01 | 2022914-JACQUES WTF- LEAD (MID | ND |
| 2022-06-01 | 202298-BOSTON ST. WTP - FINISH | 0.76 pCi/L |
| 2022-06-20 | 35727003001 | ND |
| 2022-06-20 | 35727003002 | 1.30 pCi/L |
| 2022-06-20 | 35727003003 | 1.78 pCi/L |
| 2022-06-20 | 35727003004 | 2.79 pCi/L |
| 2022-06-20 | 2022711-WELL 1 SOURCE SAMPLE ( | ND |
| 2022-06-20 | 2022725-ELM ST. WATER TREATMEN | 1.60 pCi/L |
| 2022-06-20 | 2022725-RAW WATER: WELL #5 & 5 | 1.30 pCi/L |
| 2022-06-20 | 2022817-OWEN WTP | 1.19 pCi/L |
| 2022-06-20 | 2022819-WELLESLEY AVE. WTP | ND |
| 2022-06-20 | 202283-BOTANY WELL #2 | 1.16 pCi/L |
| 2022-06-20 | 2022927-WELL #9 EAST CENTRAL S | ND |
| 2022-06-20 | 202298-GRAVELLY POND W.T.P. | 0.62 pCi/L |
| 2022-08-15 | 35741189001 | ND |
| 2022-08-15 | 202291-BROWNS XING REPL.WF - R | ND |
| 2022-08-15 | 2022913-POINT OF ENTRY | ND |
| 2022-11-09 | 35760466001 | ND |
| 2022-11-09 | 202288-HOME FARM WTP: FINISHED | ND |
| 2023-02-22 | 35783097001 | 0.64 pCi/L |
| 2023-02-22 | 2023424-REGIONAL FILTRATION PL | 0.64 pCi/L |
| 2023-02-22 | 202344-WELL #9 EAST CENTRAL ST | ND |
| 2023-04-13 | 35792649001 | 0.68 pCi/L |
| 2023-04-13 | 2023425-HENDRICK WELLFIELD RAW | ND |
| 2023-04-13 | 2023619-WELL 1: SOURCE WATER | 0.68 pCi/L |
| 2023-07-27 | 35817955001 | ND |
| 2023-07-27 | 2023410-FILTRATION PLANT 6-7-9 | ND |
| 2023-07-27 | 202358-RAW WATER: WELL #6 WEST | ND |
| 2023-10-24 | 35837629001 | 1.06 pCi/L |
| 2023-10-24 | 202347-WELL A2 - RAW WATER | 1.06 pCi/L |
| 2023-10-24 | 202365-GP WELL # 4 | ND |