Madison Water Utility to retest wells for radium - UPDATE
posted
UPDATE: May 8, 2015 – Retesting results show that radium levels at two Madison water wells have dropped. Well 19 on Lake Mendota Dr. now has a radium level of 4.1 picocuries per liter and Well 27 on North Randall Ave. has a level of 4.0 picocuries per liter. The federal maximum contaminant level (MCL) for radium is 5 picocuries per liter.
Madison Water Utility will continue to test these wells for radium quarterly. Results would have to be consistently above the MCL for at least a year in order for the water to be considered in violation of federal health standards. The Utility expects the water pumped from these wells to remain well within federal guidelines for radium.
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Madison, WI – April 8, 2015 – Madison Water Utility will be re-testing two wells this week after recent test results showed levels of radium that slightly exceeded the federal maximum contaminant level (MCL). Well 19 on Lake Mendota Dr. and Well 27 on North Randall Ave. had radium levels of 5.3 picocuries per liter and 5.7 picocuries per liter respectively. The federal MCL for radium is 5 picocuries per liter.
This is just the 2nd time that any well in our system has ever shown radium levels above the MCL. While the results are a concern, the element does naturally occur in the deepest parts of Madison’s aquifer and occasional spikes in test results are not uncommon. Madison Water Utility will re-test the wells this week to ensure that radium levels have dropped.
Madison Water Utility will continue to test these wells for radium quarterly. Results would have to be consistently above the MCL for at least a year in order for the water to be considered in violation of federal health standards. The Utility expects the water pumped from these wells to remain well within federal guidelines for radium.
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Madison, WI – April 8, 2015 – Madison Water Utility will be re-testing two wells this week after recent test results showed levels of radium that slightly exceeded the federal maximum contaminant level (MCL). Well 19 on Lake Mendota Dr. and Well 27 on North Randall Ave. had radium levels of 5.3 picocuries per liter and 5.7 picocuries per liter respectively. The federal MCL for radium is 5 picocuries per liter.
This is just the 2nd time that any well in our system has ever shown radium levels above the MCL. While the results are a concern, the element does naturally occur in the deepest parts of Madison’s aquifer and occasional spikes in test results are not uncommon. Madison Water Utility will re-test the wells this week to ensure that radium levels have dropped.
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