Radon in well water in York, PA

Testing and treatment for radon in private well water: lab tests of the water, and aeration or granular activated carbon systems to remove it. A separate problem from radon in air and common in rural York County.

Radon in well water in York County

Radon in water is a separate problem from radon in air. It matters for the rural townships on private wells, and the northern part of the county sits on the Triassic shale and sandstone of the Gettysburg basin, which produces radon in groundwater as well as in soil gas. Radon in well water enters the air of the house every time a tap, shower or washing machine runs.

There are two fixes. Aeration strips the radon out of the water before it enters the house and runs about $3,000 to $6,000 installed. Granular activated carbon absorbs it and runs about $1,000 to $2,500. Neither replaces a sub-slab system for radon in air; a house on a well often needs both.

Few local firms treat radon in water, so this category is short. It lists a water-treatment company that installs whole-house radon removal for wells, and an inspection company that runs the lab test telling you whether you need it. Water-treatment dealers are not on the DEP radon list, which covers radon in air, so ask any installer what system it uses and what reduction it guarantees. The geology guide explains the rock, the wells and what to do about them.