ualdriver
06-24-05, 10:26 AM
Hi-
I was looking at my town's (Chicago northwest suburbs) water quality report (town wells distribute water throught the town's system), and two things caught my attention. They had measured amounts of Radium 226 and Alpha Emitters in the drinking water per the following:
Radium 226
1.5 pCi/l detected
MCLG 0
MCL 0
Alpha Emitters
6 pCi/l detected
MCLG 0
MCL 0
MCLG= Maximum Contaminant Level Goal
MCL= Maximum Contaminant Level
I've read the EPA stuff, but it just makes my head spin and sometimes I think they scare more than provide realistic guidance. So I was wondering if there is a water expert on this forum that could explain to me the significance of the above numbers? I mean, is basically everyone going to find a little radium in their water and the 0 MCLG level is unrealistic? Should I be doing something at my household to bring the Radium 226 and Alpha Emitter levels down to zero if that's even possible? And what the heck are Alpha Emitters anyway?
Thanks,
ualdriver
I was looking at my town's (Chicago northwest suburbs) water quality report (town wells distribute water throught the town's system), and two things caught my attention. They had measured amounts of Radium 226 and Alpha Emitters in the drinking water per the following:
Radium 226
1.5 pCi/l detected
MCLG 0
MCL 0
Alpha Emitters
6 pCi/l detected
MCLG 0
MCL 0
MCLG= Maximum Contaminant Level Goal
MCL= Maximum Contaminant Level
I've read the EPA stuff, but it just makes my head spin and sometimes I think they scare more than provide realistic guidance. So I was wondering if there is a water expert on this forum that could explain to me the significance of the above numbers? I mean, is basically everyone going to find a little radium in their water and the 0 MCLG level is unrealistic? Should I be doing something at my household to bring the Radium 226 and Alpha Emitter levels down to zero if that's even possible? And what the heck are Alpha Emitters anyway?
Thanks,
ualdriver