Effective Ways to Remove Radon
There are many sources through which radon gas enters the water. And as it is gas, you need to know specific ways for radon removal.
Aeration Treatment for Removing Radon Gas
If your water system gas has a maximum radon concentration of 4000 pci/l, you need air treatment for radon gas mitigation. As indoor air polluted with radon can increase radon gas to your water. So, you need both an enhanced indoor air program for solving this issue and high-quality aeration treatment units for removing dissolved radon gas.
According to the safe drinking water hotline, getting an aeration system is the most effective method of radon mitigation. These aeration units agitate the water with full force. An aeration system consists of an outdoor vent, external transfer pump, aeration tank, and inflow inlet.
There are many types of home aeration units. But all have one thing in common: the physical agitation of the air. This radioactive gas can escape from water as the physical agitation makes the water release radon gas.
The spray aeration unit is the most commonly used. This method sprays water containing radon through a nozzle into an aeration tank. The sprayed water droplets release the radon in water as a gas. Then the air blower takes the most radon outside the tank through the vent.
This procedure is the most effective method of radon treatment.
Granular Activated Carbon
If there is a high radon concentration in the public water supply system, then GAC treatment units are suggested for radon removal. The type of activated carbon filter depends on how much radon is present in the water. There is a con of using a granular activated carbon filter that causes radioactive particles of radon after prolonged use.
It would help if you bought gac filters after the radon water test. The coconut-based activated carbon filters effectively reduce radon in the gac system. These gac filters pre-filtration in a gac tank sediment filter to remove other contaminants. Thus, the fact filters are efficient for removing radon.
Distillation of Drinking Water
The distillation process is known to reduce radon quite efficiently. As radon in water is a dissolved gas, it evaporates quickly as soon as the water is heated. Thus, distillation also has high removal efficiency rates.
What Is Radon?
Radon is a noble gas with no odor, color, or taste. But it is a very radioactive gas and occurs as an intermediate product of the decaying process of other radioactive elements like uranium. That is why it occurs rarely in nature.
This gas has a short half-life of about four days, making it a rare gas. As it is naturally a gas, one can inhale it very quickly. But inhaled radon is very dangerous for health. Radon is famous for its radioluminescence properties as it changes its color from yellow to reddish-orange with varying temperatures.
Though it is soluble in a minimal amount in the water, it has more solubility than other noble gasses. This quality makes it alarming for water quality.
Sources of Radon
As the radon occurs as the intermediate product of other radioactive elements decaying processes, it is widespread in soil. Due to this, it enters community water systems. It is not present in surface water.
The presence of radon in the soil leads to airborne radon that emphasizes indoor air programs. This gas is produced mainly by rocks and dirt due to natural decay phenomena and enters the surface water when it passes from the area.
That is why if you contact air near mining sites, it is contaminated with radon atoms. The presence of radon in building materials is another source of water radon.
Symptoms and Dangers of Radon
The health risks associated with radon in the water or airborne radon are alarming for humans. It causes many severe damages to the body due to its carcinogenic and radioactive properties.
Radon exposure is particularly severe for the lungs. It causes lung cancer and stomach cancer. Those who work in uranium mines and other radioactive elements are more susceptible to developing lung cancer due to inhaling radon.
The symptoms of radon exposure do not show immediately. But it has long-term effects like a slow poison.
In addition to more lung cancer deaths, the miners have frequent cases of leukemia. And a radon test indicates positive radon presence that is the cause of blood cancer.
You should test a building for radon as well. The safe limit is 4 PCI/l according to the indoor environments division. If the house does not comply with the above real estate information, do not buy it and ask for a reduction. The radon in the building material causes radon in the water to alter its quality.
The symptoms of radon exposure include persistent cough, wheezing, hoarseness, shortage of breath, chest pain, weight loss, headache, fatigue, and coughing up blood.
Does Water Filter Remove Radon?
Yes! Water filters are very effective for removing radon from the water. The most recommended water filter is a granular activated carbon filter as it absorbs and traps the radon and removes it from the water.
Reverse osmosis systems can remove it when dissolved in water as a liquid. Then, a reverse osmosis membrane separates it effectively like other contaminants. Thus, both RO and GAC filter radon effectively from the water systems.
Which Filters Remove Radon?
Whole House Reverse Osmosis System
A whole house reverse osmosis system effectively removes radon in the water because of the semi-permeable efficient membrane. This system will work perfectly even if you have a private well for a water source.
You can do all the tasks with radon-free water with the help of the system. And this is beneficial because even laundering and washing dishes with radon contaminated water add radon atoms to the air.
You should get this system for your water supply is the result of two radon tests is more than 5000 pci/l combined. Their capacity lasts for a year and has 95-97% purifying ability.
Countertop Reverse Osmosis System
A countertop RO water system is a real space-saver with its effective ability to purify water from radon and other contaminants.
If you want drinking water free of such impurities instantly, this is the right choice. You can install it on your counter, and your kitchen will have high-quality and safe water.
The reverse osmosis membrane removes all the contaminants and provides clean water for drinking. You can install disinfection equipment, too, if your water has bacterial contamination.
This countertop RO system works well when paired with other systems as well. They have other filters like gac filters and remineralization filters for enhancing water quality.
Refrigerator Water Filter
Sometimes water gets contaminated with metal and other impurities when it passes through taps after filtration. That is why you need to check the quality of water regularly. To solve this problem, you should get a refrigerator water filter that filters that fit on the fridge.
These filters are also based on high-quality technology to remove contaminants like radon. They use RO filters to provide clean and safe drinking water.
These filters can purify almost 200 gallons of water and last for a long time. They don’t take much space and work economically.
Under Sink Water Filter
The under sink water filter is the best filter because of its proper disposal of all kinds of contaminants. It works effectively to remove inorganic and organic contaminants both. Unlike other filters, it does not become obvious in your home. It is small in size and stays hidden from the eye.
You should install it under your sink. But always keep it and the place clean where it is installed. It will remove even difficult contaminants like radon and heavy metals because they have cartridges. It would help replace them after a particular time for better performance.
FAQs on How to Remove Radon From Water?
Does boiling water remove radon?
Yes! You can remove radon by boiling the water because radon escapes very quickly due to its high energy. It returns to its gaseous state soon upon heating even a little.
How do I know if my house is contaminated with radon?
There is no proper way of detecting radon except for radon testing. As radon does not smell or taste, you cannot see its presence in the water.
Does Zero Water Remove Radon?
A zero water filter is efficient with up to 98% contaminants removal rate. It can remove radon when dissolved as a liquid in water.
Conclusion
We have tried to enlist all possible ways and filters to help you remove the radioactive harmful element radon from your drinking water. It could harm you beyond imagination if you keep drinking the water with radon present in it.
You might develop cancer of various kinds, including lung and blood cancer. So, get one of these filters to have safe and pure water. Hope you would have gotten all the information you needed about radon removal from water. We would be delighted to read your opinions about it.