Is My Water Radioactive?
Radiation -
Common Forms:
Electromagnetic (EMP/EMR)
Gamma Radiation
X-Rays
Particulate (Mass expelled)
Beta Radiation
Alpha Radiation
Light
Heat
Sound
Is my water radioactive? No, water cannot become radioactive. It is the particles / particulate that becomes radioactive and then radiates the objects in comes in proximity to.
Radiation? I have no idea There are many types of radiation (see the button to the right radiation 101). The type of radiation that you need to be aware of and understand is called ionizing radiation. From a biological standpoint ionizing radiation is the 800 pound gorilla in the room. Ionizing radiation penetrates glass, wood, sheet rock, and up to 3 feet of earth. Ionizing radiation can alter DNA, cause cell death, or a change in cell reproduction most commonly causing mutation. The mutation is most commonly identified as cancer. Ionizing radiation occurs in two forms; particulate (sub-atomic particles of dust, dirt, any solid; known as alpha and Beta particles) that emit radiation and electromagnetic radiation (X-rays and gamma rays).
How can I make my drinking water safe? Simply put, the simplest way to remove radioactive particulate from your drinking water is through the process of filtration through media known as Ion Exchange Resins or the use of Reverse Osmosis (RO). Ion exchange resin filters are used quite commonly in public water treatment facilities and also in concert with water softeners in private well systems. There are many large chemical companies including Siemens, Dow, and many more. The resin is based upon a very highly porous, extremely absorbent material. One of the most effective and common ion exchange resins is known as zeolite. Zeolites have been found naturally occurring around the world in about 40 variations. Zeolites are inert, have a neutral impact on the environment and are highly effective at scrubbing both air and water of contaminants. They're extremely effective at bonding with radioactive particulate. Many reverse osmosis units use an ion exchange resin filter as part of its overall. The reverse osmosis units remove many types of particles and ions from the water by passing the water through a membrane which acts as a microscopic screen which only allows nearly pure water to pass through.
Filtering and purifying your water at home or in the office can be a simple process through the use of ion exchange resin filters and/or reverse osmosis. Reliable units with electronic notification devices to remind the user that the unit requires filter or membrane replacement as well as warning of membrane failure are highly recommended. Reverse osmosis is an inefficient method of processing raw water because it requires that a significant amount of rejected water is dumped along with the rejected particulate. It also requires an average minimum of 30 psi in order to flow water.
Off grid purification Obviously, the pressure requirements for RO makes reverse osmosis much more complicated in off grid scenarios. The Ion Exchange Fliters do work off grid but so far I have not found portable versions. This is why Will uses the Sawyer Absolute .02 hollow fiber membrane water filter. (Click here to read about it on Sawyer's website) the system uses gravity and once properly primed it will flow 4 liters in under 15 minutes.
Is that all I need to do? For the basics? yes. But, if you are serious about your health then you should consider some other things too. At home a whole house filter and absolutely a shower head filter are valuable aids in the overall water contamination issue. The filter, which can also be used in a mobile format, should include activated carbon. RO, Ion Exchange Resin, or ceramic "candle" filters alone will not remove chlorines, tastes, odors, or VOCs. Activated carbon with the proper amount of surface area will and very effectively in most situations.
A final note of caution FAs your filtration material removes radioactive particulate from your raw water, it will collect in the filter. After a while your filter wil become what is refered to as "hot". It will be mildly to highly radioactive. You must take care to not store the filter near your body. It is also necessary to replace it as the levels of radiation increase. In order to determine when to replace it you will need some type of reliable low level radiation detector like a Geiger counter or Dosimeter.
Coronal Mass Ejections
Earth Magnetosphere
F10.7 CM Radio Emissions
Galactic Cosmic Rays
Geomagnetic Storms
Solar EUV Radiation
Solar Flares (Radio Blackouts)
Solar Radiation Storm
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