Uranium found in 10 out of 12 drinking water wells

[Guest guest]

here we go- an article on that " safe " form of uranium!

(good grief.....safe mercury, safe lead, and now safe uranium....and a lil bit

of DDT or percholate never hurt anyone huh?)

Tami

http://tinyurl.com/yao85w

Uranium found in area wells

BY KIM FRLAN

S-E Staff Reporter

Ten out of 12 drinking water wells tested around Arden and Rocky Lake

recently were discovered to have unacceptable levels of uranium.

One of those wells tested by the Tri-County Health District belonged

to Dr. Ball and her husband, Buxton.

“When drinking water has uranium in it, radiation is not a problem,

but uranium is a heavy metal. It can accumulate in the kidneys and cause kidney

damage,” Dr. Ball said. “Also, as uranium decays, it releases radon. Breathing

air with radon in it can cause cancer. It’s important for people in the area to

test the air in their homes for radon gas.”

A statement released by the Washington State Department of Health last

week says, “For a long time it has been known that the northeast part of

Washington has more uranium in the soil and rocks than in other parts of the

state. This is due to the specific geology of the area.”

The amount of uranium in drinking water considered safe by the

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is 20 picocuries per liter. Uranium

levels found in the Arden and Rocky Lake wells ranged from four to 515

picocuries per liter.

The EPA guideline for radon in drinking water is 4000 picocuries per

liter. Five of the twelve Arden wells tested exceeded this amount. The tests

showed a range of 630 to 15,115 picocuries per liter of radon.

“It is important to understand that the levels found in these wells

will not cause immediate physical harm even if you drink the water regularly,”

the Department of Health statement says. “The health impact is a potential

increase in your risk for getting cancer. The increase in risk is small, but

not zero.” The statement also said there is little or no health concern with

bathing or showering in water containing uranium, and that there is very little

evidence that drinking water containing radon is harmful. Only drinking water

containing uranium and breathing air containing high levels of radon is

considered harmful.

For those in the Tri-County area who live on a public water system

serving at least 15 homes, the water supplier is responsible for testing that

water, and treating it if unacceptable levels of uranium are found.

City water testing reveals no danger

City water is tested regularly according to Department of Health

guidelines. A consumer confidence report is sent to residents every year

detailing the findings.

“If any contaminant level is unsafe, by law we have to notify the

public,” said Colville’s Water/Sewer Superintendent Dennis Ferguson. “We

haven’t had any real problems with our wells. We haven’t run into any

contaminants that are a big health problem.”

Ferguson explained that Colville city water comes from a different

aquifer than the one supplying the Rocky Lake/Arden area. The city water

department does not test for uranium, but does test for radium every three

years. This past year, that level was found to be less than one picocurie per

liter in the upper water system and 2.99 picocuries per liter in the lower

system.

Kettle Falls City Superintendent Gassaway said, “We’re required

to test for radio nucleids. Uranium falls under that. We’re completely under

any unsafe level. This year’s gross alpha radiation test came back at 2.53

picocuries per liter. We’re not required to test for uranium unless that number

is over 15 picocuries per liter.”

Robin Hegney, supervisor of the Chewelah Water Department, said their

gross alpha radiation test has come back at 7 or less in past years, well below

the 15 picocuries per liter that would require testing for uranium.

Private wells should be tested, radon levels measured

For other residents in the Tri-County area whose public water system

serves 14 or fewer homes, the water supplier or homeowners’ association should

be contacted about getting the water tested for uranium.

Those with private drinking water wells will be responsible for their

own testing.

If uranium is found above 20 picocuries per liter, a reverse osmosis

water treatment system is recommended for the home. Otherwise, drinking bottled

water is recommended. Only drinking water needs to be treated. Water used for

other purposes does not pose a health risk.

The Department of Health recommends that every home in Northeast

Washington be tested for radon gas. Test kits are available in hardware stores

or through purchase online. High levels of radon gas in a home can be treated

by installing a vent pipe system and fan underneath the house.

“We’re having our current water softener system assessed to see if

that takes care of the uranium problem,” Dr. Ball said. “If it does, we’ll

re-plumb to make sure all water coming into the house goes through it. I’ll

probably put a reverse osmosis filtering system under the kitchen sink. That

takes away the taste from the water softener.

“We built our house by the new code which has a radon evacuation

system,” Dr. Ball continued. “I have radon testers ordered. If the test shows

a problem, we’ll put a fan in the duct that vents the gravel under the house.”

To receive a copy of the Department of Health statement, call the

Tri-County Health District environmental health office at 684-2262. Other

information can be obtained online by searching “uranium drinking water risk” or

“radon gas home test.” Mike Brennan, an official at the Department of Health

Office of Radiation Protection, can also be contacted at .

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