Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Radium, combined (-226 and -228)

City of Alexandria 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.

 

279

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

63

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018N/A00N/A
20190.24 pCi/L11031ND - 1.97 pCi/L
20200.31 pCi/L186ND - 1.57 pCi/L
2021ND90ND
20220.08 pCi/L10915ND - 1.39 pCi/L
20230.30 pCi/L3311ND - 1.55 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
2019-01-3035445470001ND
2019-01-3035445470002ND
2019-01-3035445470003ND
2019-01-3035445470004ND
2019-01-3035445470005ND
2019-01-3035445470001ND
2019-01-3035445470002ND
2019-01-3035445470003ND
2019-01-3035445470004ND
2019-01-3035445470005ND
2019-01-302317171-01ND
2019-02-0635446987001ND
2019-02-0635446987002ND
2019-02-0635446987003ND
2019-02-0635446987004ND
2019-02-0635446987005ND
2019-02-0635446987001ND
2019-02-0635446987002ND
2019-02-0635446987003ND
2019-02-0635446987004ND
2019-02-0635446987005ND
2019-02-062020-04-085DW.3ND
2019-02-062020-12-266DW.1ND
2019-02-062102800-01ND
2019-02-062203-01613-001ND
2019-02-2735451250001ND
2019-02-2735451250002ND
2019-02-27354512500030.73 pCi/L
2019-02-2735451250004ND
2019-02-2735451250005ND
2019-02-2735451250001ND
2019-02-2735451250002ND
2019-02-27354512500030.73 pCi/L
2019-02-2735451250004ND
2019-02-2735451250005ND
2019-02-272102798-01ND
2019-02-272203119-01ND
2019-03-13354546760010.66 pCi/L
2019-03-1335454676002ND
2019-03-13354546760030.28 pCi/L
2019-03-13354546760040.88 pCi/L
2019-03-13354546760010.66 pCi/L
2019-03-1335454676002ND
2019-03-13354546760030.28 pCi/L
2019-03-13354546760040.88 pCi/L
2019-03-132106-01096-003ND
2019-03-132107-00592-0030.28 pCi/L
2019-03-2035456260001ND
2019-03-2035456260002ND
2019-03-2035456260003ND
2019-03-2035456260004ND
2019-03-20354562600051.01 pCi/L
2019-03-2035456260001ND
2019-03-2035456260002ND
2019-03-2035456260003ND
2019-03-2035456260004ND
2019-03-20354562600051.01 pCi/L
2019-03-20L2246338-01ND
2019-03-2735457693001ND
2019-03-2735457693002ND
2019-03-2735457693003ND
2019-03-2735457693004ND
2019-03-2735457693005ND
2019-03-2735457693001ND
2019-03-2735457693002ND
2019-03-2735457693003ND
2019-03-2735457693004ND
2019-03-2735457693005ND
2019-03-27S010423E2ND
2019-03-27S050421F3ND
2019-04-10354610500010.71 pCi/L
2019-04-1035461050002ND
2019-04-1035461050003ND
2019-04-1035461050004ND
2019-04-1035461050005ND
2019-04-10354610500010.71 pCi/L
2019-04-1035461050002ND
2019-04-1035461050003ND
2019-04-1035461050004ND
2019-04-1035461050005ND
2019-04-102100902-01ND
2019-04-102115432-01ND
2019-04-102117190-01ND
2019-04-102213147-01ND
2019-04-102214203-01ND
2019-04-10221618.01-TSOND
2019-06-06354738780011.64 pCi/L
2019-06-06354738780020.47 pCi/L
2019-06-06354738780030.83 pCi/L
2019-06-06354738780011.64 pCi/L
2019-06-06354738780020.47 pCi/L
2019-06-06354738780030.83 pCi/L
2019-07-2535485311001ND
2019-07-2535485311001ND
2019-09-11354977270010.78 pCi/L
2019-09-1135497727002ND
2019-09-1135497727003ND
2019-09-11354977270010.78 pCi/L
2019-09-1135497727002ND
2019-09-1135497727003ND
2019-12-04355167330010.37 pCi/L
2019-12-04355167330020.69 pCi/L
2019-12-04355167330030.99 pCi/L
2019-12-04355167330040.98 pCi/L
2019-12-04355167330051.97 pCi/L
2019-12-04355167330010.37 pCi/L
2019-12-04355167330020.69 pCi/L
2019-12-04355167330030.99 pCi/L
2019-12-04355167330040.98 pCi/L
2019-12-04355167330051.97 pCi/L
2020-03-2635539990001ND
2020-03-26355399900021.57 pCi/L
2020-03-262021422-POINT OF ENTRY POST TRND
2020-03-262021428-RAW WATER: SHABOKIN REND
2020-03-26202155-POINT OF ENTRY1.57 pCi/L
2020-03-262021615-WELL #9ND
2020-06-1735557855001ND
2020-06-17355578550020.41 pCi/L
2020-06-172021426-RAW: GREEN ST. BEDROCK0.41 pCi/L
2020-06-172021512-BEAVER BROOK WTP EFFLUND
2020-06-172021512-HINGHAM ANIMAL CLINICND
2020-06-172021618-RAW WATER: WELL 2ND
2020-10-0135582119001ND
2020-10-01202142-RAW WATER: WEST ST. WELND
2020-10-01202146-RUN HILL ROAD GP WELL #ND
2020-11-09355907750010.83 pCi/L
2020-11-092021518-OLD LOC. NO.-SARGENT WND
2020-11-092021623-MEMORIAL BEACH WTP (FI0.83 pCi/L
2021-01-2635607688001ND
2021-01-262021101-CONANT WELL: AFTER TREND
2021-01-2620211118-DRAPER RD WELL #2 - RND
2021-05-0535631373001ND
2021-05-0520211013-NEWMAN WELL 1R (09G)ND
2021-05-052021106-WESTFIELD RD WTP POSTND
2021-07-1435647771001ND
2021-07-142021107-EAST DEDHAM FIRE STATIND
2021-07-1420211216-FINISHED WATERND
2022-01-0435689594001ND
2022-01-0435689594002ND
2022-01-0435689594003ND
2022-01-04202275-SEEKONK WATER TREATMENTND
2022-01-04202276-WELL # 1ND
2022-01-042022811-FAUNCE - 16 GREEN ST.ND
2022-01-042022822-WELL # 2ND
2022-01-042022824-CROOKED SPRING WTP - FND
2022-01-04202296-GP WELL # 5ND
2022-01-1935691868001ND
2022-01-1935691868002ND
2022-01-1935691868003ND
2022-01-1935691868004ND
2022-01-1935691868005ND
2022-01-192022720-WELL #8 & WELL #9 (09GND
2022-01-192022721-WELL #6ND
2022-01-192022726-RAW WATER: WELL #1 JERND
2022-01-192022815-HORN POND WTP - RAW WAND
2022-01-19202282-OLD LOC. NO.--SPRINGVALND
2022-01-19202282-RITA MILLER SCHOOLND
2022-01-192022824-CROOKED SPRING WTP - FND
2022-01-19202283-EAST ST. WTP (BLEND): AND
2022-01-192022920-PLAIN ST FILTRATION PLND
2022-01-19202298-LINCOLN ST. WELL #1ND
2022-02-0235694848001ND
2022-02-0235694848002ND
2022-02-0235694848003ND
2022-02-0235694848004ND
2022-02-02356948480051.39 pCi/L
2022-02-022022718-STA # 2ND
2022-02-022022719-BUILDING 1 POINT OF EN0.65 pCi/L
2022-02-022022719-TREATED WATER 01G/03GND
2022-02-022022721-WELL #90.74 pCi/L
2022-02-022022725-REPLACEMENT WELL #3ND
2022-02-02202275-NEW LAWRENCE WTP - FININD
2022-02-022022817-WEST PEABODY WTP - (2SND
2022-02-022022825-FINISHED: WELL #5 RAWSND
2022-02-02202283-CATE SPRINGS TREATMENTND
2022-02-02202296-WPFP LAB SINKND
2022-02-23356995450010.83 pCi/L
2022-02-2335699545002ND
2022-02-2335699545003ND
2022-02-2335699545004ND
2022-02-2335699545005ND
2022-02-232022712-WELL #2 RAW WATERND
2022-02-232022715-LAKE MIRIMICHI WELLS 1ND
2022-02-232022722-WELLESLEY AVE. WTPND
2022-02-23202282-RUNTAL CO.-WARD HILL 3ND
2022-02-232022830-POINT OF ENTRY POST TRND
2022-02-23202289-COLLEGE HIGHWAY PUMPINGND
2022-02-23202289-GP WELL # 2ND
2022-02-232022913-GUSHEE POND TREATMENTND
2022-02-232022921-TONKA INFLUENT FOR GAC0.83 pCi/L
2022-03-09357033850010.45 pCi/L
2022-03-0935703385002ND
2022-03-09357033850030.32 pCi/L
2022-03-0935703385004ND
2022-03-092022714-FINISHED: BLACKSTONE S0.45 pCi/L
2022-03-09202275-MAPLE SPRINGS PLANT0.32 pCi/L
2022-03-09202276-WELL 21 AND 22ND
2022-03-09202282-LUDLOW MONITORING STATIND
2022-03-09202282-W.T.P. - FINISHED WATEND
2022-03-092022831-BUILDING 2808ND
2022-03-092022920-PLAIN ST FILTRATION PLND
2022-03-09202299-CLEVELAND WTP POST TREAND
2022-03-1635704974001ND
2022-03-1635704974002ND
2022-03-1635704974003ND
2022-03-1635704974004ND
2022-03-1635704974005ND
2022-03-16202275-MAPLE SPRINGS PLANTND
2022-03-16202275-NEW LAWRENCE WTP - FININD
2022-03-16202276-CAMBRIDGE WTP - FINISHND
2022-03-16202276-WELL # 1ND
2022-03-162022810-CITY HALLND
2022-03-16202283-CLARK STREET POINT OF END
2022-03-162022913-WASHINGTON PLANTND
2022-03-162022920-MILL POND WTP - (01S,0ND
2022-03-16202296-CHAPIN STREET PUMPING SND
2022-07-1835733720001ND
2022-07-18357337200020.43 pCi/L
2022-07-1835733720003ND
2022-07-1835733720004ND
2022-07-1835733720005ND
2022-07-1835733720006ND
2022-07-182022712-GP WELL # 2ND
2022-07-182022715-LAKE MIRIMICHI WELLS 1ND
2022-07-182022719-WELL #4ND
2022-07-182022725-ELM ST. WATER TREATMENND
2022-07-18202281-FIRESTONE TIRE, 95 HIGHND
2022-07-182022819-PLEASANT MARKET - 2 RI0.43 pCi/L
2022-07-18202283-OLD LOC. NO.-SARGENT WTND
2022-07-18202291-OLD SALEM ST. WF - RAWND
2022-07-18202296-WALSH (COOLIDGE) WTP -ND
2022-07-18202297-WATER TREATMENT PLANTND
2022-07-18202298-GRAVELLY POND W.T.P.ND
2022-07-18202299-CRYSTAL LUMBER - 76 FOUND
2022-09-13357471940010.81 pCi/L
2022-09-1335747194002ND
2022-09-132022725-ELM ST. WATER TREATMENND
2022-09-13202282-LELAND FARMS WELL, FINI0.81 pCi/L
2022-09-13202283-BUTTERS ROW #2 - RAW WAND
2022-09-132022926-WELLS #1 & #2 - FINISHND
2022-11-30357635310010.42 pCi/L
2022-11-3035763531002ND
2022-11-302022713-RAW WATER #6.1 HOME FA0.42 pCi/L
2022-11-302022718-STA # 4ND
2022-11-30202275-WELL #1 AND #2ND
2022-11-302022915-RAYMOND RD WTP-EFFLUENND
2023-02-0635778643001ND
2023-02-0635778643002ND
2023-02-06202351-WATER TREATMENT PLANTND
2023-02-062023516-RAW: QUINAPOXET WELL #ND
2023-02-062023523-FINISHED: WASHINGTON SND
2023-02-062023531-D'ANGELIS: POST GAC VEND
2023-05-3035803597001ND
2023-05-3035803597002ND
2023-05-3035803597003ND
2023-05-302023411-MIDPOINT: CHESTNUT (POND
2023-05-302023425-RAW WATER: WELL #2ND
2023-05-30202346-FINISHED:HOLBROOK ST. WND
2023-05-30202351-W.T.P. - FINISHED WATEND
2023-05-302023531-PLANT 579 OLD WESTPORTND
2023-05-302023614-MEMORIAL FILTRATION PLND
2023-07-31358179470010.91 pCi/L
2023-07-31358179470021.12 pCi/L
2023-07-31358179470031.17 pCi/L
2023-07-312023411-WELL #2 POST TREATMENT0.91 pCi/L
2023-07-312023419-FINISHED:HOLBROOK ST.1.17 pCi/L
2023-07-31202343-SHAWSHEEN AVE - RAW WATND
2023-07-31202343-WTP FINISHED (1S,3S,5S,ND
2023-07-312023530-LUDLOW MONITORING STATND
2023-07-31202367-SCHOOL ST. WELL1.12 pCi/L
2023-11-27358449100011.55 pCi/L
2023-11-27358449100020.25 pCi/L
2023-11-2735844910003ND
2023-11-272023419-POINT OF ENTRY POST TR0.72 pCi/L
2023-11-27202343-FINISHED: ENTRY POINT (0.25 pCi/L
2023-11-27202344-POINT OF ENTRYND
2023-11-27202344-SECOND DIVISION GP WELL0.83 pCi/L
2023-11-272023616-RAW: REPLACEMENT WELLND
2023-11-272023626-BRAINTREE WTP - FINISHND