What is radon?

• Radon is a radioactive gas, naturally produced in the ground from uranium which is present in small quantities in all rocks and soils
• You cannot smell, see or taste radon
• Radon in air can only be measured with special equipment
• Radon in drinking water also requires a specialised test which you can have carried out on your water supply.

Why is radon a problem?

• Radon is a radioactive gas which produces tiny radioactive particles. When inhaled, these particles are deposited in the airways and on lung tissue to give a radiation dose that can cause lung cancer
• Your risk of contracting lung cancer from exposure to radon depends on how much radon you have been exposed to and for how long.
• When you are exposed for a long period of time to high levels of radon, you increase your risk of developing lung cancer
• Radon is in the same group of carcinogens as asbestos and tobacco smoke
• Radon in air is not linked to any other types of respiratory illnesses or other types of cancer.

Why is radon a problem in drinking water?

You can be exposed to radioactive radon through drinking water and through inhaling the gas as it is released from water.

• Inhaling the gas
  • Radon is easily released from water into the atmosphere when the water is agitated or heated
  • When you are exposed for a long period of time to high levels of radon, you increase your risk of developing lung cancer.
• Drinking water with high levels of radon
  • The cells in your stomach could be exposed to increased radiation by drinking water that contains radon.

Is my drinking water at risk?

• If you get your drinking water from a borehole or private ground water supply, then your water may be at risk of having elevated levels of radon.
• If you are connected to the mains supply or get your water from a surface water supply, the risk that your water contains elevated levels of radon is very low. This is because radon is easily dispersed from water when it is agitated as it goes through the mains system; or when left to stand for some time, as in a tank or reservoir.

What can I do to protect myself?

• If you use water from a borehole or private groundwater supply, you can  get the levels of radon in your drinking water measured
• Contact us if you cannot find answers to your questions on our website.

Can elevated levels of radon be removed from drinking water?

There are two basic water treatment methods for the removal of radon. Both methods are capable of over 95 per cent efficiency.

• Aeration - Based on the natural tendency of radon to diffuse out of water when the water is exposed to air. Aeration systems include multistaged bubble aeration, high pressure air injection, and spray aeration. Adequate ventilation is then required to prevent the subsequent build-up of radon in the air.
• Granular Activated Carbon Absorption - Water is pumped through a bed of granular activated carbon which absorbs the potentially dangerous radon. This system has the disadvantage that radioactivity can build up in the unit, which may require specialist disposal.