Tuesday, April 16, 2013

By John Voket In our last segment, I noted that Connecticut just issued a statewide advisory for all homes on well systems to begin supplemental testing for arsenic and uranium. So we'll wrap up our crash course on wells and contaminants by scoping in on two main culprits.

We will begin with arsenic - a classified human cancer-causing agent - which has been associated with increased risk of lung, bladder and skin cancers.

The type of uranium found in groundwater is not considered a radioactive risk and is therefore not a major cancer concern. However, the toxicity of the uranium metal has been associated with adverse effects on kidney function.

You should test for arsenic and uranium when you buy a house with a well or at the time a new well is drilled. Since it is possible for both contaminant levels in well water to fluctuate, it is a good idea to test for arsenic every 5 years.

If you have a treatment system to remove arsenic or uranium from your water, you should test every year to be sure your treatment system is working properly.

Because uranium gets into your body only through ingestion (and not through the skin or through inhalation), it is not necessary to treat all the water in your home, only the water you drink. Reverse osmosis (RO) and ion exchange are the most common types of treatment systems used for uranium removal and are both very effective.

You should also think about whether the uranium treatment system you are considering will also remove radium. If you need to treat your water because of high uranium and the system you select will also remove radium, then you do not need to test your water for radium.

However, if a uranium treatment system is not effective for radium, Connecticut health officials recommend that testing your water for radium. If you have elevated radium in addition to uranium, you will need to select a system that will effectively remove both contaminants.

To learn more, or get more localized information on water issues where you live, go to: water.epa.gov/drink

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