Marion water at one well has “slightly” high radium level

MARION - The Water Department here has notified customers that one of the city's nine water wells has tested 'slightly above” drinking water standards for the naturally occurring contaminant, radium.

Todd Steigerwaldt, the department's general manager, on Thursday said that the water that the city supplies to customers is blended from the city's multiple wells.

However, the measurements for drinking water come at the well not at the point where water is dispensed to customers, Steigerwaldt said.

He said the city routinely monitors its wells, and test results received on June 5 showed that average level of radium at one of the city's five deep wells measured 6.2 picocuries per liter, which is above the maximum standard of 5 pCl/L.

The city has retested the well with the high reading, but it will take about 30 days for the city to learn the test results, he said.

Steigerwaldt said the water system violation is not an emergency or an 'immediate risk” and residents do not need to use an alternative water supply.

Some who drink water containing radium in excess of the drinking water limit over years may have an increased risk of cancer, he said.

Those with questions can call the Marion Water Department at 743-6311.