Fleck Radon in Water Filter

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Common misunderstandings about radon test results in well water

When radon shows in water test reports for an area like Union County, NM, it’s easy to assume your own well water has the same or higher levels. This is not necessarily true. The government’s groundwater sampling collects data from specific wells; it does not measure your individual water source. Interpreting “detected” as a problem or “range” as a direct measurement of your water risks confusion. Instead, these values describe what was found in other wells within the same aquifer.

Interpreting terms like detected, median, and range in local radon data

In Union County’s aquifer 111CPLN, the U.S. Geological Survey sampled seven test results from one deep well between April and December 2020. Radon-222 was detected in all samples, with values ranging from 890 to 1040 pCi/L and a median level of 960 pCi/L. “Detected” means the instrument measured radon in every sample; it is not a safety statement. The “median” reflects the middle value of detected concentrations, giving an idea of typical levels found in this part of the aquifer. The “range” shows the lowest and highest measurements recorded, indicating some natural variation over time or sampling conditions.

Comparing local radon levels to federal guidelines—and what that says

Federal standards for radon-222 in water provide benchmarks for public health references. None of the sampled results in this area exceeded any federal threshold. This means, as per these samples, radon concentrations in the aquifer fall below levels of regulatory concern. However, these findings do not guarantee your well’s water matches these results. Your own water quality can only be determined by a certified laboratory test of your well water.

Additional questions for non-residential water users

Commercial or industrial water users may need to consider operational factors such as higher daily water use rates, regulatory discharge limits, or indoor air radon concerns related to water handling. Households typically focus on health-related exposure limits and treatment capacity. Larger facilities might also require continuous monitoring and compliance reporting, whereas residential users prioritize effective removal for everyday use. For household systems, the main concern is whether existing water treatment equipment can meet demand without losing efficiency.

Systematic approach to confirming radon issues in household water

Start with a visual and functional check: radon does not cause changes in water color, cloudiness, or odor, so these signs point to other water problems. The next step is to obtain a lab test from your own well water, specifying radon-222 activity in picocuries per liter (pCi/L). This test is the only way to establish your water’s actual concentration. If your household equipment is meeting daily water volume but still not maintaining expected radon reduction, consider capacity limitations or filter exhaustion. Addressing these requires a system that matches your household’s water use and radon levels, not assumptions based on area data alone.

What household symptoms help identify radon in water

Unlike some water issues, radon does not cause taste, odor, or staining problems. It is a radioactive gas that can dissolve into water without producing sensory effects. Problems potentially linked to radon relate to long-term health risks from ingestion or inhalation of radon released from water. Symptoms such as discoloration, cloudiness, odors, or an iron taste indicate other water quality issues, not radon. Therefore, if your household notices these signs, testing should include other parameters alongside radon.

Documented solution for households exceeding equipment capacity

For homes where current equipment struggles to keep up with radon levels and water use, the Fleck Radon in Water Filter is a documented solution. This system ships ready to configure and is designed to handle radon concentrations typical of Union County’s aquifer 111CPLN. Selecting a system aligned with your household’s lab-tested radon measurement and daily water demand ensures effective management of radon in your water supply.

Where this information comes from

Source: USGS groundwater sampling. Sampled 2020-12-09. 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 111CPLN aquifer (Union County): 7 results from 1 wells, median 960.0 pCi/L, range 890.0-1040.0 pCi/L; none above any federal threshold