Autotrol Radon in Water Filter

Buy Now

View full details

If you notice radon concerns mainly when using showers or taps, what does that mean?

Radon in water is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can dissolve in groundwater. When water containing radon is used for household activities such as showering, bathing, or cooking, the radon can release into indoor air. Fixtures that aerate water, like showers and faucets, tend to be the first where radon exposure manifests in air quality. This indirect exposure route affects indoor air more than direct ingestion. Appliances such as washing machines or dishwashers generally show less impact since water is not aerated as much. Understanding which household points are affected first helps prioritize treatment placement and equipment capacity for radon reduction.

If your concern is how radon levels change by season or over several years, how do the local data apply?

The U.S. Geological Survey collected four groundwater samples in Hunterdon County’s aquifer 227PSSC between August 2010 and June 2011. Radon-222 was detected in all four, with a median concentration of 3,785 pCi/L and a range from 1,650 to 26,000 pCi/L. This limited data suggest radon concentration can vary widely in this region within less than one year. Seasonal effects and multi-year trends may add further variation. Because of this variability, relying on area-wide historical samples helps frame potential exposure but cannot substitute for testing individual household water, which fluctuates based on local well conditions and time of year.

If your household water is drawn from a well at or near the typical sampling depth in Hunterdon County, what should you expect?

The sampled wells ranged in depth from 299 to 428 feet, typical for aquifer 227PSSC. Well depth influences radon concentration because radon gas originates from underground uranium decay and dissolves into groundwater during rock contact. Deeper wells may encounter different radon levels due to geological variation. For a household drawing water from wells in this depth range, radon presence is likely consistent with the area’s medium-to-high detections, though precise levels require testing your own well water. Additionally, the source type—such as groundwater versus surface water—matters as radon presence is primarily a groundwater issue. Testing your specific source remains essential to assess your actual water conditions.

If you or family members observe certain symptoms, should radon in water be suspected?

Exposure to radon primarily leads to risks related to prolonged inhalation of radon gas released indoors, not immediate or direct symptoms from water consumption. Symptoms such as respiratory issues or unusual tastes are not reliable indicators of radon in water. Unlike contaminants that can cause acute effects, radon exposure risk in households comes from cumulative dose over years. Thus, symptoms do not reliably point to radon in water, and only laboratory testing of your water and indoor air can confirm its presence and concentration.

If radon in household water remains untreated over years, what outcomes may occur?

Without treatment, radon gas dissolved in water can continue to release into indoor air when water is used, contributing to indoor radon levels. Long-term exposure to elevated indoor radon has been linked by health authorities to increased lung cancer risk. However, radon concentrations found in the Hunterdon County samples did not exceed any federal limit, indicating that typical local water sources present measurable but not necessarily hazardous levels. Still, prolonged exposure warrants consideration of mitigation to reduce radon in water contributions to indoor air. The Autotrol Radon in Water Filter, which ships ready to configure, is a documented option designed to reduce radon from household water, helping lower indoor radon exposure when selected appropriately based on household water demand and radon levels.

These radon data come from four wells sampled in the Hunterdon County aquifer 227PSSC between 2010 and 2011, as documented by the U.S. Geological Survey at https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/402146074535102/. Keep in mind these figures represent area samples and not your individual water. Testing your own well water is the only way to know your exact radon level and make the best equipment choice for your household.

Where this information comes from

Source: USGS groundwater sampling. Sampled 2011-06-27. 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 227PSSC aquifer (Hunterdon County): 4 results from 4 wells, median 3785.0 pCi/L, range 1650.0-26000.0 pCi/L; none above any federal threshold