Abstract
Approximately 10% of the homes in northern Virginia use well water. Our measurements show that some exceed 4000 pCi/L, that the average is about 2000 pCi/L, and that a few homes have waterborne radon as low as 300 pCi/L, the USEPA’s recommended Maximum Concentration Level. In this area, granitic rocks yield well water with about 5000 pCi/L, felsic metamorphic rocks yield well water with about 2000 pCi/L, and quartz -rich sedimentary rocks average about 1000 pCi/L. Tests of remediation technology showed that passing water through large tanks of activated charcoal removes about 90% of the waterborne radon, but the charcoal becomes less efficient over a few months. Aeration experiments using a blade and experiments using a splash box in large community storage tanks removed about 60-70% of the waterborne radon, but using both removed about 90%, and the combination does not become less effective through time.
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Simoni, F., Mushrush, G., Mose, D. (2005). Reduction of Radon in Municipal Wells in Virginia and Maryland. In: Calabrese, E.J., Kostecki, P.T., Dragun, J. (eds) Contaminated Soils, Sediments and Water. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-23079-3_25
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-23079-3_25
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