Water problems
Radon and radioactivity in well water
14% of USGS-sampled Pennsylvania wells exceeded 4,000 pCi/L radon, and 10% of NJ wells exceeded 15 pCi/L gross alpha. What that means and how wells are treated.
Some bedrock and sand aquifers contain naturally occurring radioactive elements. In well water, the two you'll hear about are radon, a gas that escapes into the air when you shower or run water, and gross alpha radiation, which usually comes from radium and uranium.
Radon in Pennsylvania wells
The USGS tested 1,041 Pennsylvania wells and found that 14% exceeded 4,000 pCi/L of radon[1].
There's no federal drinking water limit for radon; the 4,000 pCi/L figure is the benchmark the USGS used. Radon in water mostly adds to radon in indoor air, so test your air as well.
Gross alpha in New Jersey wells
Under New Jersey's Private Well Testing Act, 10% of 99,698 wells tested exceeded 15 pCi/L gross alpha, with the highest rates in Burlington, Camden, Cumberland, and Gloucester counties[2].
15 pCi/L is the federal limit for gross alpha in public water[3]. A high gross alpha result usually calls for follow-up tests for radium and uranium.
Treatment
Radon in water is removed by aeration (bubbling or spraying the water to release the gas, then venting it outside) or, at lower levels, granular activated carbon. Radium can be reduced by ion exchange, and reverse osmosis reduces radium and uranium at the tap. Because treatment design depends on which elements are present and at what levels, well treatment starts with a certified-lab test.
Solutions that help
What drives the price? See Well water treatment cost. Every recommendation starts with your free water report.
Where this comes up in our service area
Common questions
Should I test my well for radon?
If you're in Pennsylvania on a private well, it's worth it: 14% of wells in the USGS study exceeded 4,000 pCi/L. Test your indoor air too.
Is gross alpha the same as radon?
No. Gross alpha measures alpha radiation from dissolved elements like radium and uranium. Radon is a gas and is tested separately.
Clean water starts with knowing what's in it.
Sources
- USGS: High levels of radon found in some wells across Pennsylvania. www.usgs.gov/news/state-news-release/high-levels-radon-found-some-wells-across-pennsylvania
- NJ DOH Environmental Public Health Tracking: Gross alpha in private wells. www-doh.nj.gov/doh-shad/indicator/summary/GrossAlphaPW.html
- U.S. EPA: National Primary Drinking Water Regulations. www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/national-primary-drinking-water-regulations
EPA records retrieved Oct 2026 from the EPA SDWIS and UCMR 5 public datasets. Utility records describe a water system, not the tap in your home. Records can lag and may be incomplete.