Radon in Water

Radon is soluble in water and thus may accumulate in water as it passes over rocks and through soil. As radon is a gas it is easily lost from water when it is agitated for example when river or lake water flows over rocks or is moved by wind. Ground water (from wells and bore holes) on the other hand, does not tend to be agitated before reaching the domestic tap, so if there is radon present it tends to remain in the water. For this reason the RPII advises that domestic water supplies of groundwater or partial groundwater origin should be tested for radon. For private water supplies, the RPII recommends that where levels exceed 1000, remediation of the supply should be considered.

What areas of Ireland are at risk?

There is no direct relationship between the amount of uranium in the underlying rocks and soil and the concentration of radon in the water supply, nor has any direct relationship been established between radon in indoor air and radon in water. Therefore it is not possible to predict if any areas of Ireland are more at risk than others. For this reason the RPII recommends that all domestic water supplies of groundwater or partial groundwater origin are tested for radon.

Because radon is a gas that is readily lost from water over time or due to agitation of the water, the installation of a holding tank, an aeration unit or an agitation system, between the source and the domestic tap will significantly reduce the level of radon in the tap water.

Remediation of Water Supplies

We provide a full remediation service to reduce radon levels in your water supply. Please contact us for further information.