Drinkable Water in a Region with a High Level of Natural Radiation

Abstract

Background: The recent Spanish legislation on drinkable waters for public use includes a paragraph establishing the requirements to be fulfilled by waters in relation with their radioactivity and the methods to be used to measure it. As water radiactivity depends on the radioactive content of the grounds and rocks where it flows, it is possible to expect high levels in those zones whose characteristic is their high level of natural radiation. Methods: For this reason, we have organized two measurement campaigns with the objective of characterizing the drinkable waters in an Spanish area, where the radiactive elements concentration ín the ground is high. The methodology used is as described in legislation, using a low botomed proportional counter. Results: The results we have obtained indicate that the zone, where measurements have been made, shows lower radioactivity levels than the legaly established limits, nevertheless, at same time, there appear severa1 points, where the radioactivity levels are high, showing values exceeding in great measure the legal limit for drinkable waters. Conclusions: With the results, we have obtained, its seems necessary that a greater attention is paid to drinkable waters in those points, where the radioactivity levels are high including corrective measures.