The FONTUS Guide to Radon & Uranium in Maine’s Well Water

So, how does Radon & Uranium get into Maine’s Well Water? Uranium is a naturally occurring element found in rocks. Not all rocks contain Uranium. However, Maine has a literal bedrock foundation; it is common to see Uranium in the Northeast. The Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry points out that “Some of the most beautiful scenery in Maine is where the rugged bedrock is exposed to view – along the “rock-bound” coast at Portland Head Light or Pemaquid, or on bare mountain tops such as Mount Katahdin, Cadillac Mountain, the Camden Hills, or Mount Kineo. In fact, the general distribution and shape of Maine’s mountainous and lowland terrains are controlled by the way different kinds of bedrock have been eroded differently through geologic time.” Uranium breaks down very slowly into other elements, including radium and radon gas.

What Is Radon?

We can’t talk about radon until we talk about Uranium. Uranium is a metal that can be found worldwide; it makes up about 2 to 4 parts per million of most rocks. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, uranium is 40 times more plentiful than silver. It’s also radioactive.

When Uranium breaks down, it produces radon, a colorless, odorless, tasteless, and radioactive gas that can cause cancer. It occurs in soil and rock and can also dissolve into water. Therefore, areas with granite, granitic sand, and gravel formations tend to have high radon levels in groundwater. If you live in such an area, that water can easily get into your well.

Radon in water can increase the chances of you or your family members developing cancer. The Maine Bureau of Health recommends that radon in drinking water be no more than 4,000 pCi/L. Unfortunately, studies have shown that nearly one in five Maine wells has high or higher radon concentrations.

The bottom line is that if your water comes from a private well, you should test the water for radon and uranium.