Radon exposure can be from air and water . Every building contains radon but normally at very low levels. The chances of a higher level depend on the type of ground. For example if the ground water has contact with certain rocks like granite, there can be radon levels in the water. Public Health England has published a map showing where high levels are more likely. The darker the colour the greater the chance of a higher level. The chance is less than one home in a hundred in the white areas and greater than one in three in the darkest areas.
You can order a radon building measurement kit here.
Testing radon levels in water is more difficult and specialised because it is measured in picocuries and many scientific services testing labs do not test this and it can be costly from more specialised labs.
Most drinking water supplies have very low levels of radon. If your home uses the public water supply, any monitoring for radon is carried out by the water provider and you can ask them for their testing results, which we would not expect you can find on your water undertaker's website.
Exposure from radon in a private water supply can come from from breathing in radon decay products when they are released into indoor air. This is through showering and bathing.
A standard 3-month test for radon in indoor air will identify whether significant levels of radon are being released into indoor air from a private water supply. If the test result is high, it may then be appropriate to test a sample of the water to confirm whether it is the source of radon.
Testing radon levels in water is more difficult and specialised because it is measured in picocuries and many scientific services testing labs do not test this and it can be costly from more specialised labs. Most drinking water supplies have very low levels of radon. If your home uses the public water supply, any monitoring for radon is carried out by the water provider and you can ask them for their testing results, which we would not expect you can find on your water undertaker's website. Other private providers in the UK for radon testing can be found here.
Techniques are available to reduce high levels of radon in private drinking water supplies. After taking action to reduce radon levels in a private water supply, you should re-test both your water supply and home for radon. You should repeat these tests every few years to make sure that levels remain low.
Methods for Radon Water Treatment
Aeration
Aeration is the process of increasing or maintaining the oxygen saturation of water in both natural and artificial environments. Injected air will have stripped previously trapped gasses out of the water. Air access is restored to the water enabling the ventilation of gases, such as radon and methane, to the atmosphere. The system quickly and reliably removes contaminants.
Carbon FIltration
Radon attaches to the carbon and leaves the water free of radon. Disposing of the carbon may require special handling if it is used at a high radon level or if it has been used for a long time. See here for carbon filters for radon.
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