Reading Radon Sampling Data for Your Home
Median and Range Reflect Area Variation, Not Individual Wells
Government sampling in Hunterdon County’s 227BRCKS aquifer found radon-222 levels ranging from 1,740 to 27,300 pCi/L, with a median of 18,450 pCi/L, based on four wells sampled between 2010 and 2011. This range represents different wells 151 to 510 feet deep, not the radon level in any specific household’s water. No federal threshold was exceeded in these samples.
A Detection Indicates Presence but Not Safety or Hazard
All four samples detected radon, but detection alone does not mean the water is unsafe or legally noncompliant. Testing your own water is necessary to determine your home's specific radon concentration.
Assessing Treatment Capacity Relative to Household Demand
Match Treatment Flow Rate to Daily Water Use
When existing radon water treatment equipment is underperforming, the core issue may be that the system’s capacity does not meet the household’s daily water consumption. Larger families or properties with high water use require equipment that can handle increased volumes effectively.
Review System Limits for Continuous Radon Reduction
The C-Series Radon in Water Filter ships ready to configure for effective radon reduction. Evaluating whether the current system’s treatment capacity matches your household’s peak and average water use helps ensure radon levels remain controlled at the tap.
Plumbing Material and Age: Independent but Important Considerations
Source Radon Levels Are Separate from Plumbing Influences
The presence of radon in water is primarily determined by groundwater characteristics in the aquifer. Plumbing materials and their age do not affect radon concentration in source water but can influence other water quality factors.
Systems Should Be Compatible with Your Plumbing Setup
Choosing treatment technology like the C-Series system requires ensuring compatibility with existing piping to maintain performance over time.
Radon Entry into Groundwater and Distribution in Hunterdon County
Radioactive Decay of Natural Uranium Causes Radon in Aquifers
Radon-222 originates from the decay of uranium naturally present in rock formations below Hunterdon County. It dissolves into groundwater, resulting in the radon concentrations detected during sampling.
Radon Levels Vary with Well Depth and Geological Conditions
The four sampled wells ranged in depth from 151 to 510 feet, reflecting variation in radon levels based on subsurface geology and depth.
Considerations for Large or Seasonal Households
Higher Water Use Increases Treatment Demand
Homes with many occupants or those that use more water regularly will need a treatment capacity that can keep up to maintain radon reduction.
Seasonal Properties May Have Fluctuating Water Use Patterns
For second homes or seasonal residences, consider that equipment downtime or low use periods can affect treatment efficacy and require specific management strategies.
What You Should Not Conclude from Area Radon Data
Area Sampling Does Not Indicate Your Well’s Radon Level
The data from Hunterdon County and the 227BRCKS aquifer describe general radon presence in several wells but do not reveal the concentration in your water. Individual testing is essential.
Detection Does Not Imply Violation or Unsafe Water
Though radon was detected in all samples, none exceeded federal thresholds. Detection simply means that radon is measurable, not that the water is unsafe or noncompliant with regulations.
Use Area Data as a Guide, Not a Definitive Measure
While area data helps understand the potential for radon presence, it cannot replace a direct water test. Decisions about radon control should be based on your own water’s measured radon levels and household water use characteristics.
Where this information comes from
Source: USGS groundwater sampling. Sampled 2011-05-18. These figures describe groundwater sampled in this area. They are not a test of any individual private well - only a test of that well can establish its own water.
On record: U.S. Geological Survey sampling of Radon-222 in the 227BRCKS aquifer (Hunterdon County): 4 results from 4 wells, median 18450.0 pCi/L, range 1740.0-27300.0 pCi/L; none above any federal threshold