WSP Whole House Uranium & Radium Reduction System

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Measured Radium-228 Levels Compared to Federal Standards in Suffolk County

Government groundwater sampling in Suffolk County's 211MAGT aquifer reports Radium-228 detections ranging from -0.04 to 1.8 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) with a median of 0.475 pCi/L based on 28 results from 25 wells sampled between 2012 and 2022. Notably, none of these results exceed any federal limit for Radium-228. This indicates that, at the area level, the aquifer generally maintains Radium-228 concentrations below regulatory thresholds. It is important to understand that these values reflect the sampled wells collectively and do not define individual well concentrations.

Interpreting 'Detected', Median, and Range in Area Sampling Records

In the Suffolk County aquifer samples, 'detected' means instruments have measured Radium-228 in all 28 test results, with no results below the reporting limit. The median value represents the midpoint concentration in this dataset, while the range describes the span from the lowest to the highest measured concentration. These statistical indicators provide a regional snapshot rather than a specific measurement of any one household's water.

Public-Aquifer Sampling versus Private Well Water Testing

Area-level data, like Suffolk County’s aquifer samples, offer insights into the general presence and variability of Uranium-Radium constituents in groundwater. However, households relying on private wells cannot assume these figures represent their own water quality. Private well water can vary significantly based on depth, geology, and other local factors. Only direct testing of a household’s water will provide definitive results relevant for treatment decisions.

Household Signs That May—or May Not—Indicate Uranium-Radium Presence

Unlike some water quality issues that manifest with taste, odor, or staining, Uranium and Radium do not produce easily observable symptoms in water. Their presence can only be confirmed through laboratory testing. Therefore, typical household water problems like discoloration or metallic taste are not reliable indicators of these radionuclides. Conversely, absence of symptoms does not guarantee absence of Uranium-Radium.

Influence of Plumbing Materials and Age Separate from Source Water Quality

Water quality can be affected by household plumbing materials and pipe age, which can influence taste, color, or corrosion but do not affect Uranium-Radium concentrations originating from the source aquifer. It is important not to conflate plumbing-related issues with Uranium-Radium levels, which are determined by groundwater composition and must be measured at the point of supply.

What Suffolk County Area Data Should Not Lead You to Conclude

Area aquifer measurements do not define the Uranium-Radium content of your specific well or tap water. Detection in the area does not mean your water is above any federal limit or unsafe. Without testing your own water, treatment needs cannot be accurately assessed. Choosing equipment requires knowledge of your own water’s constituent levels. Systems like the C-Series Uranium & Radium System, capable of 32,000 grain capacity, offer documented technology to address these constituents when required but require confirmation of your water's actual levels before selection.

Where this information comes from

Source: USGS groundwater sampling. Sampled 2022-08-11. 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 Radium-228 in the 211MAGT aquifer (Suffolk County): 28 results from 25 wells, median 0.475 pCi/L, range -0.04-1.8 pCi/L; none above any federal threshold