Radioactive Contaminants in Water

Most water sources have very low levels of radioactive contaminants, most of which are naturally occurring, although contamination from human-made nuclear materials can also occur. Most radionuclides are at levels that are low enough to not be considered a public health concern. At higher levels, long-term exposure to radionuclides in drinking water may cause cancer. In addition, exposure to uranium in drinking water may cause toxic effects to the kidneys. Radiation found in sewage sludge and the ash from its incineration may be from Nuclear Regulatory Commission licensees, industrial discharges, and TENORM.

We have 100 resources (and counting) on Radionuclides in our Documents Database that provide valuable information on this topic. You can search for documents on the management of radioactive residuals from drinking water treatment, approved analytical methods for monitoring radionuclides, uranium as a drinking water contaminant, federal regulations on the disposal of residuals containing radionuclides, and many other useful guides that will help you to deliver safe and clean water to utility customers. 

To access the wealth of knowledge on Radionuclides within our database just select "CATEGORY" in the dropdown then choose "Radionuclides." Once you make that selection, a second dropdown will appear where you can choose "HOST," “TYPE,” or “STATE” to narrow the search even further. If you have a specific search term in mind, use the “Keyword Filter” search bar on the right side of the screen.

This is part of our A-Z for Operators series.