Temporal and spatial variation of waterborne point-of-use ²²²Rn in three water distribution systems

Authors

Eileen L. Fisher
Laurence J. Fuortes
Johannes Ledolter
Daniel J. Steck, College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's UniversityFollow
R. William Field

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-1998

Disciplines

Health and Medical Physics | Physics

Abstract

Three water supply systems in Iowa were studied to examine temporal variation of ²²²Rn at the point of entry and the point of use. For the three towns, 71, 9, and 0% of the maximum point-of-use ²²²Rn concentrations were significantly higher than the point-of-entry ²²²Rn concentrations. Homes connected to older water mains in two of the towns had higher ²²²Rn concentrations than those connected to newer water mains. In one town, the waterborne ²²²Rn concentrations in the home were related to the home's location along an old water main. The increase in ²²²Rn concentrations, after the water leaves the water plant, were attributed to radium deposits in the water distribution system. In addition, the water plant's radium laden iron filters contributed 7 Bq L^-1 and 60 Bq L^-1 of ²²²Rn to the finished water in What Cheer, Iowa, and Wellman, Iowa, respectively. Backwashing schedules in the water treatment systems greatly affected point-ot-entry ²²²Rn concentrations. The results of this study have important implications for ²²²Rn sampling, required for regulatory compliance.

Recommended Citation

Fisher EL, Fuortes LJ, Ledolter J, Steck DJ, Field WR. 1998. Temporal and spatial variation of waterborne point-of-use ²²²Rn in three water distribution systems. Health Physics 74(2): 242-248.