Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Radium, combined (-226 and -228)

City of Jeanerette 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.

Click here to read more on radiological contaminants.

 

244

Samples

17

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

238

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20182.37 pCi/L14141.08 pCi/L - 4.44 pCi/L
20193.41 pCi/L38381.21 pCi/L - 5.90 pCi/L
20202.08 pCi/L5755ND - 8.96 pCi/L
20212.15 pCi/L5351ND - 5.50 pCi/L
20222.19 pCi/L4038ND - 8.71 pCi/L
20232.28 pCi/L42420.89 pCi/L - 7.00 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
2018-06-26354011070012.58 pCi/L
2018-06-26354011070012.58 pCi/L
2018-08-06354094800011.96 pCi/L
2018-08-06354094800021.96 pCi/L
2018-08-06354094800034.44 pCi/L
2018-08-06354094800011.96 pCi/L
2018-08-06354094800021.96 pCi/L
2018-08-06354094800034.44 pCi/L
2018-09-10354175950012.26 pCi/L
2018-09-10354175950012.26 pCi/L
2018-11-08354301820062.26 pCi/L
2018-11-08354301820062.26 pCi/L
2018-11-082007931-021.18 pCi/L
2018-11-082012214-011.08 pCi/L
2019-01-28354450370015.90 pCi/L
2019-01-28354450370015.90 pCi/L
2019-02-13354485740022.30 pCi/L
2019-02-13354485740022.30 pCi/L
2019-02-19354496900015.19 pCi/L
2019-02-19354496900025.50 pCi/L
2019-02-19354496900015.19 pCi/L
2019-02-19354496900025.50 pCi/L
2019-04-23354644300022.53 pCi/L
2019-04-23354644300022.53 pCi/L
2019-04-232106818-011.21 pCi/L
2019-05-20354702140023.07 pCi/L
2019-05-20354702140043.78 pCi/L
2019-05-20354702140065.19 pCi/L
2019-05-20354702140082.15 pCi/L
2019-05-20354702140023.07 pCi/L
2019-05-20354702140043.78 pCi/L
2019-05-20354702140065.19 pCi/L
2019-05-20354702140082.15 pCi/L
2019-08-22354937400011.44 pCi/L
2019-08-22354937400022.90 pCi/L
2019-08-22354937400034.87 pCi/L
2019-08-22354937400043.07 pCi/L
2019-08-22354937400011.44 pCi/L
2019-08-22354937400022.90 pCi/L
2019-08-22354937400034.87 pCi/L
2019-08-22354937400043.07 pCi/L
2019-08-222110974-011.44 pCi/L
2019-11-13355127250013.50 pCi/L
2019-11-13355127250024.62 pCi/L
2019-11-13355127250033.46 pCi/L
2019-11-13355127250042.38 pCi/L
2019-11-13355127250013.50 pCi/L
2019-11-13355127250024.62 pCi/L
2019-11-13355127250033.46 pCi/L
2019-11-13355127250042.38 pCi/L
2019-11-132117194-011.27 pCi/L
2019-11-132119571-021.89 pCi/L
2020-02-06355295100012.53 pCi/L
2020-02-06355295100028.96 pCi/L
2020-02-062021426-RAW: GREEN ST. BEDROCK6.10 pCi/L
2020-02-06202155-WORCESTER RD. WTP (FINI1.83 pCi/L
2020-02-062021630-MORSES POND WELL2.86 pCi/L
2020-02-06202168-HEATHER HILL CLUBHOUSE0.70 pCi/L
2020-02-19355329970011.11 pCi/L
2020-02-19355329970021.68 pCi/L
2020-02-19355329970033.97 pCi/L
2020-02-192021412-POINT OF ENTRY POST TR0.60 pCi/L
2020-02-192021415-WELL 2 SOURCE WATER TA1.11 pCi/L
2020-02-192021426-RAW: GREEN ST. BEDROCK1.08 pCi/L
2020-02-192021427-PUMPHOUSE: FINISHED WA1.79 pCi/L
2020-02-19202146-RAW WATER: WELL #22.18 pCi/L
2020-02-192021512-RAW WATER: WELL #2 JERND
2020-03-05355357190013.13 pCi/L
2020-03-05202146-WELL #11.45 pCi/L
2020-03-05202156-RAW WATER: WELL #41.68 pCi/L
2020-03-19355387490011.80 pCi/L
2020-03-192021413-LELAND FARMS WELL, FIN0.75 pCi/L
2020-03-192021519-MANLEY STATION (06G,071.05 pCi/L
2020-05-20355519710012.35 pCi/L
2020-05-20355519710022.66 pCi/L
2020-05-20355519710035.39 pCi/L
2020-05-20355519710042.70 pCi/L
2020-05-202021413-FOREST ST ROCK WELL (01.22 pCi/L
2020-05-202021414-GREEN RIVER WELL RAW W1.34 pCi/L
2020-05-202021416-AVON RES. FINISHED2.47 pCi/L
2020-05-202021425-RAW WATER: WELL #31.02 pCi/L
2020-05-202021512-TREATED: NASHUA ROAD W1.68 pCi/L
2020-05-20202154-POINT OF ENTRY1.13 pCi/L
2020-05-20202155-LESCH RESIDENCE, BEAR S1.32 pCi/L
2020-05-20202167-HARTFORD AVE. FILTRATIO2.92 pCi/L
2020-08-05355691400012.76 pCi/L
2020-08-05355691400025.12 pCi/L
2020-08-05355691400032.75 pCi/L
2020-08-05355691400042.06 pCi/L
2020-08-052021426-RAW: WELL 20.75 pCi/L
2020-08-05202147-PAUL D. DALEY WELL (03G1.52 pCi/L
2020-08-052021510-TREATMENT PLANT - FINI1.31 pCi/L
2020-08-052021517-COMBINED SPRINGS POINT1.58 pCi/L
2020-08-052021525-RAW: WELL #22.62 pCi/L
2020-08-052021615-RAW WATER: WELL #22.50 pCi/L
2020-08-05202164-RAW: LANCASTER AVE TWF1.23 pCi/L
2020-08-05202167-TREATED: SALMON BROOK1.18 pCi/L
2020-11-23355948350010.78 pCi/L
2020-11-23355948350022.45 pCi/L
2020-11-23355948350033.41 pCi/L
2020-11-23355948350043.55 pCi/L
2020-11-232021413-WELL #21.85 pCi/L
2020-11-232021414-SO. CHATHAM TREATMENT1.70 pCi/L
2020-11-232021416-AVON RES. FINISHED1.45 pCi/L
2020-11-23202146-POINT OF ENTRY0.78 pCi/L
2020-11-23202146-WELL # 71.00 pCi/L
2020-11-232021511-FENNEL WELLS2.11 pCi/L
2020-11-232021520-535 LOOMIS ST, KERRND
2020-11-232021617-FINISHED: SNAKE POND W1.30 pCi/L
2021-02-24356172260012.67 pCi/L
2021-02-24356172260024.41 pCi/L
2021-02-24356172260032.99 pCi/L
2021-02-24356172260041.33 pCi/L
2021-02-2420211020-ROCK VILLAGE GP WELL0.75 pCi/L
2021-02-2420211021-MID-POINT: POST A300E1.01 pCi/L
2021-02-242021107-WELLS #1,#2 (01G,02G)1.92 pCi/L
2021-02-242021108-EASTON CENTER SCHOOL -1.29 pCi/L
2021-02-2420211116-LAKE NIP WELL #: 2,1A1.31 pCi/L
2021-02-242021112-MORSES POND WELL1.70 pCi/L
2021-02-2420211130-FINISHED: ENTRY POINT3.42 pCi/L
2021-04-26356291380011.88 pCi/L
2021-04-26356291380023.06 pCi/L
2021-04-26356291380035.50 pCi/L
2021-04-26356291380044.16 pCi/L
2021-04-2620211012-POINT OF ENTRY1.17 pCi/L
2021-04-2620211013-FINISHED: CROSS STREE1.99 pCi/L
2021-04-2620211013-WELL #1 AND #21.07 pCi/L
2021-04-2620211025-POND ST TREATMENT PLA2.28 pCi/L
2021-04-262021106-FINISHED: PATTON REPLA3.00 pCi/L
2021-04-262021106-LAKE COCHICHEWICK - WT0.71 pCi/L
2021-04-2620211214-GP WELL #101.16 pCi/L
2021-04-2620211217-NORTH ACTON WTP: AFTE3.22 pCi/L
2021-05-24356361590012.50 pCi/L
2021-05-24356361590022.51 pCi/L
2021-05-2420211013-FINISHED: CROSS STREEND
2021-05-2420211025-BRUCE CAHOON WTP2.50 pCi/L
2021-05-242021112-LELAND FARMS WELL, FIN0.71 pCi/L
2021-05-242021113-WELL # 61.80 pCi/L
2021-07-16356496640012.07 pCi/L
2021-07-16356496640024.74 pCi/L
2021-07-16356496640032.09 pCi/L
2021-07-16356496640042.07 pCi/L
2021-07-1620211013-WELL #1 & #2ND
2021-07-1620211014-STATION # 1 (01G)-END1.36 pCi/L
2021-07-1620211028-MID-POINT: CHESTNUT W0.71 pCi/L
2021-07-1620211117-WELL #3 & WELL #42.09 pCi/L
2021-07-1620211118-CHARLES RIVER WTP - F3.52 pCi/L
2021-07-162021114-TOWNLINE HARDWARE1.16 pCi/L
2021-07-1620211221-HARRIS POND GP WELL (1.22 pCi/L
2021-07-162021127-WELL #4 AND #50.91 pCi/L
2021-10-15356722440014.38 pCi/L
2021-10-15356722440024.95 pCi/L
2021-10-15356722440033.07 pCi/L
2021-10-15356722440042.67 pCi/L
2021-10-1520211013-MAIN ST. WTF FINISHED0.60 pCi/L
2021-10-1520211019-POINT OF ENTRY POST T2.07 pCi/L
2021-10-1520211027-TREATED: SOUTHBRIDGE1.25 pCi/L
2021-10-152021105-WELLFIELD # 13.13 pCi/L
2021-10-1520211116-BRATTLE ST VAULT - 3R2.06 pCi/L
2021-10-1520211118-CHICKERING DR. WELL3.88 pCi/L
2021-10-152021119-POINT OF ENTRY POST TR1.01 pCi/L
2021-10-152021128-SCHOOL ST. WELL1.07 pCi/L
2022-02-15356978080043.60 pCi/L
2022-02-15356978540011.16 pCi/L
2022-02-15356978540033.26 pCi/L
2022-02-152022724-WELL #4 RAW WATER SAMPND
2022-02-15202281-GOLF COURSE - 685 MAIN1.16 pCi/L
2022-02-15202282-CENTRAL FIRE STATION1.33 pCi/L
2022-02-15202282-LELAND FARMS WELL, FINI1.78 pCi/L
2022-02-152022913-WASHINGTON PLANT1.82 pCi/L
2022-02-152022914-PATTON TRAIN B POST TR1.93 pCi/L
2022-06-02357257160018.71 pCi/L
2022-06-02357257160022.04 pCi/L
2022-06-02357257160034.89 pCi/L
2022-06-022022714-BILODEAU TREATMENT PLA1.71 pCi/L
2022-06-022022721-WADING RIVER FINISHED0.46 pCi/L
2022-06-022022725-REPLACEMENT WELL #32.79 pCi/L
2022-06-02202288-221 MAIN ST - DUNKIN DO7.00 pCi/L
2022-06-022022919-HEATHER HILL CLUBHOUSE2.10 pCi/L
2022-06-022022922-12 WINTER ST - DPW HWY1.58 pCi/L
2022-09-16357487730011.17 pCi/L
2022-09-16357487730022.24 pCi/L
2022-09-16357487730034.10 pCi/L
2022-09-16357487730042.44 pCi/L
2022-09-162022713-RAW WATER #6.3 HOME FA1.17 pCi/L
2022-09-162022719-WELL #31.25 pCi/L
2022-09-162022720-FRANCIS STREET WELLS1.50 pCi/L
2022-09-16202281-BOOSTER STATION 181 HIG2.97 pCi/L
2022-09-162022811-GP MID-POINT: BETWEEN0.74 pCi/L
2022-09-162022817-LONG POND WTP POST TREND
2022-09-162022928-CHESTNUT WTF POST TREA1.19 pCi/L
2022-09-16202297-RAW WATER-WELL #2 FRUIT1.13 pCi/L
2022-12-02357654440011.24 pCi/L
2022-12-02357654440022.61 pCi/L
2022-12-02357654440034.59 pCi/L
2022-12-02357654440042.65 pCi/L
2022-12-022022712-FINISHED: MAPLE STREET1.24 pCi/L
2022-12-022022713-TURNPIKE LAKE WTP1.77 pCi/L
2022-12-022022719-POINT OF ENTRY POST TR3.01 pCi/L
2022-12-022022720-W. GLOUCESTER WTP (2-40.89 pCi/L
2022-12-022022721-WADING RIVER FINISHED0.84 pCi/L
2022-12-02202283-PAVESTONE PLANT1.56 pCi/L
2023-03-08357862700012.89 pCi/L
2023-03-08357862700022.10 pCi/L
2023-03-08357862700033.94 pCi/L
2023-03-08357862700042.79 pCi/L
2023-03-082023412-WELL #1 ENTRY POINT (A1.91 pCi/L
2023-03-082023414-WATER TREATMENT PLANT-1.52 pCi/L
2023-03-082023418-ENTRY POINT TAP (AFTER1.27 pCi/L
2023-03-082023424-HARTFORD AVE. FILTRATI1.07 pCi/L
2023-03-082023523-BOTANY WELL #21.03 pCi/L
2023-03-082023613-BOTANY WELL (01G,02G)1.39 pCi/L
2023-03-082023619-WELL 1: RAW WATER1.50 pCi/L
2023-03-082023623-FINISHED: MACPHERSON W2.03 pCi/L
2023-06-21358096590012.15 pCi/L
2023-06-21358096590023.19 pCi/L
2023-06-21358096590035.52 pCi/L
2023-06-212023412-SPRINGVALE WELL #3A-RA1.00 pCi/L
2023-06-21202345-ENTRY POINT AFTER BOOST1.12 pCi/L
2023-06-212023515-143 OLD LYMAN ROAD2.19 pCi/L
2023-06-21202352-FINISHED: SPECTACLE PON2.45 pCi/L
2023-06-21202353-TREATMENT PLANT - FINIS1.03 pCi/L
2023-06-212023616-SPEC POND WTP (BLEND)3.07 pCi/L
2023-08-15358229150022.46 pCi/L
2023-08-15358229150054.72 pCi/L
2023-08-15358229150073.29 pCi/L
2023-08-152023418-TREATED WATER 01G/03G1.57 pCi/L
2023-08-15202343-SOUTHWICK WELLFIELD RAW1.07 pCi/L
2023-08-15202346-WHITNEY POND TREATMENT1.48 pCi/L
2023-08-152023517-SPRINGVALE WTP1.39 pCi/L
2023-08-152023613-BRAINTREE WTP - FINISH3.24 pCi/L
2023-08-152023626-WELL # 141.72 pCi/L
2023-10-04358341480013.14 pCi/L
2023-10-04358341480027.00 pCi/L
2023-10-04358341480032.24 pCi/L
2023-10-042023418-TREATED WATER 01G/03G1.83 pCi/L
2023-10-042023419-NOTOWN WTP: AFTER TREA1.31 pCi/L
2023-10-04202345-170 HAVERHILL STREET0.89 pCi/L
2023-10-042023525-ROCK VILLAGE GP WELL #3.15 pCi/L
2023-10-042023627-WELL #2: SOURCE TAP1.35 pCi/L
2023-10-04202366-STA. #4 (GLEN DRIVE WEL3.85 pCi/L
2023-12-05358468290022.49 pCi/L
2023-12-052023412-75 MIDDLE ST - TOWN HA1.21 pCi/L
2023-12-05202368-SOUTH ST. GP WELL1.28 pCi/L