How can community systems correct a radium problem?
Each community which exceeds the drinking water standard for radium must determine the best remedy for its situation. Quality, dependability, difficulty in maintaining and operating equipment, and cost of alternatives are important considerations. Corrective methods include obtaining a new water source, blending water from more than one source, or removing radium by treatment. The first two are usually preferable to treatment since they are less expensive and create no additional waste disposal problems. Where possible, a source of treated surface water or groundwater with lower radium content, drawn from a different geologic formation, can replace or be mixed with an existing source. Systems unable to use these options will have to remove radium by treatment. The most inexpensive treatment method is likely to be synthetic zeolite ion exchange such as used in home water softeners. This water softening process, is expected to remove about 90% of the radium It produces a pleasing water s
