nuclear-news

The high levels of radiation were found in a Greene County stream that flows into the Monongahela River. Ultimately, that water ends up in Pittsburgh.

Ken Dufalla of the Izaak Walton League conservation group has been taking samples from 10 Mile Creek for years, frequently finding high levels of total dissolved solids.

“I wouldn’t touch it. As you can see, I try to keep my hands off it all I can because I don’t know what’s in this water,” Dufalla said.

To find out exactly what is in the water, he pressed the state Department of Environmental Protection to do comprehensive testing.

The results showed levels of radium 226 and radium 228 totaling 327 picocuries per liter at one location, and 301 picocuries per liter of radium 226 at another location.

In plain English, that means both samples had 60 times the EPA drinking water standard of 5 picocuries per liter.

“There’s something in here that’s not supposed to be here,” Dufalla said.

Ten Mile Creek feeds into the Mon River near Fredericktown. Less than a mile down river is a water treatment plant, and that is a major concern for regulators and area residents.

John Stolz, a biologist at Duquesne University, says radium can be hazardous.

“The reality is, if it’s getting into the water that is being used as a source of drinking water, then it is a problem,” Stolz said.

One big problem is water authorities cannot easily get rid of radium through the standard filtering process.

Tests by the Tri-County Joint Municipal Authority last year found low levels of radium 228 — just 1 picocurie per liter. But the authority did not test for radium 226, and it did not do any radium testing in 2012 or 2013.

It’s not just drinking water that’s a concern. The Izaak Walton League canceled plans to stock 10 Mile Creek with trout this year after consulting with state officials.

“Do you want to eat fish that has radiation in it? It’s that simple,” Dufalla said………

The DEP is concerned enough that it is also doing additional testing of water, fish and wildlife in the area.

“We’re trying to attack this from every possible angle to see what the extent of the contamination is, if there is extensive contamination, what it’s affecting, and tracking it down,” Poister said.

The DEP is especially interested in finding the source of the radiation. Stolz says the test results offer a clue.

“It’s highly suggestive that it may be due to drilling operations, or at least the wastewater,” Stolz said……… http://www.wtae.com/news/radiation-found-in-greene-county-stream-near-water-supply/34205428