Study of temporal variation of radon concentrations in public drinking water supplies

Thesis/Dissertation · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1995

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/505739· OSTI ID:505739

York, Emma L. ^[1]

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1. Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC (United States). Dept. of Environmental Sciences and Engineering

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for radon-222 in public drinking water supplies of 300 pCi/L. Proposed monitoring requirements include collecting quarterly grab samples for the first year, then annual samples for the remainder of the compliance cycle provided first year quarterly samples average below the MCL. The focus of this research was to study the temporal variation of groundwater radon concentrations to investigate how reliably one can predict an annual average radon concentration based on the results of grab samples. Using a "slow-flow" collection method and liquid scintillation analysis, biweekly water samples were taken from ten public water supply wells in North Carolina (6 month - 11 month sampling periods). Based on study results, temporal variations exist in groundwater radon concentrations. Statistical analysis performed on the data indicates that grab samples taken from each of the ten wells during the study period would exhibit groundwater radon concentrations within 30% of their average radon concentration.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge Inst. for Science and Education, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Assistant Secretary for Environment, Safety, and Health; North Carolina State Government
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76OR00033
• OSTI ID: 505739
• Report Number(s): DOE/OR/00033--T693; ON: DE97053095
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
DRINKING WATER
GROUND WATER
NORTH CAROLINA
RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
RADON 222
SAMPLING
VARIATIONS
WATER SUPPLY