How is radium in drinking water monitored?
By law, all community water systems must be monitored for radioactivity. The testing process for water samples begins with a screening for “gross alpha particle activity” which measures the total amount of one type of radioactivity given off by the water. If gross alpha activity is found, further testing for radium is conducted. Radioactivity levels are measured in “picocuries” per liter of water (abbreviated “pCi/l”).
