Radon in drinking water is not considered to be a health issue. There is no Canadian guideline stating what is a safe level of radon in drinking water. However, if you are concerned and want to remove it from your supply, there are three ways to do it in Nova Scotia: aeration, distillation, and granular activated carbon.
The chart below lets you compare them to decide which is best for you
There is a list of laboratories that can test your water for radon at the end of this fact sheet.
| Method | Application | Reliability | Cost (2004 prices) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aeration | Large and small central systems, households and institutions. | Reliable if equipment kept in good condition according to manufacturer's instructions. | Unit: Approximately $4,000 installed. The only operating cost is for electricity. |
| Distillation | Useful for applications where up to approximately 70 litres of water a day is used for drinking and cooking. | Very | Unit: $2,000-$2,500. The only operating cost is for electricity. |
| Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) | Check with the supplier regarding volumes of water to be treated and about the proper disposal of the used filters or call the NSEL for more information. | Reliable if manufacturer's instructions are followed. Filters usually require replacement after 2-3 months. | Units capable of treating approximately 350 litres of water cost between $20 - $60. Operating costs include changing the carbon bed, $120-$200 every 2 years. |
For more information check the Yellow Pages of your telephone book under the heading Water Treatment for a list of water treatment dealers.
You asked about... is a series of fact sheets produced by Nova Scotia Environment. For additional copies, contact the regional or head office nearest you.
Bedford........902-424-7773
Halifax..........902-424-3600
Kentville.......902-679-6086
Sydney.........902-563-2100
Truro............902-893-5880
Labs that test for radon in drinking water:
QEII Health Sciences Centre
Environmental Chemistry Laboratory, Halifax
902-473-8466
Maxxam Analytics Inc., Bedford
(902) 420-0203