What is Gross Alpha?

• A test that measures the presence of gross alpha particle activity in your private well water. In simpler terms, it measures the amount of radiation in your drinking water from either radium, uranium, and/or radon.
• These naturally occurring substances can be found, at some level, in almost all rocks and soils.
• In New Jersey, we have areas of higher concentrations. Please visit the gross alpha tab of our online interactive map to see where elevated concentrations are found. Please note that Gross Alpha became a required parameter in 2008 in 12 counties, then became a statewide parameter in 2018, so there may not be much data for your area yet.

What health effects are associated with Gross Alpha exposure?

• Radium: Certain types of cancer (bone, breast, liver, sinus) and other health effects such as anemia, cataracts, and broken teeth
• Uranium: Kidney damage/toxicity
• Radon: Stomach cancer

How can I reduce my exposure to Gross Alpha radiation?

• Install a water treatment system
  • Please consult your water treatment professional on what system is right for your specific water treatment needs.
• Always be sure to test your water again after the installation of a water treatment system to ensure that the system is properly treating your water.
• Always use a DEP certified laboratory for any drinking water test.
• Regardless of what treatment system you have, it’s very important to maintain the system according to the manufacturer’s instructions to make sure your drinking water is properly treated.

What is a 48-Hour Rapid Gross Alpha test?

• The 48-hour rapid Gross Alpha test is an analysis of a Gross Alpha sample that within 48 hours of sample collection.
• This is the NJDEP approved method for testing for Gross Alpha.
• A list of NJDEP certified laboratories can be found here. Although most of the laboratories are located out of state, arrangements can be made with a NJ based lab for collection and shipment to a certified out-of-state lab.

How do I interpret the 48-Hour Rapid Gross Alpha test results?

• If testing shows that your water is greater than 15 pCi/L, further testing for uranium, Radium 226 and 228, and radon is recommended. The installation of a water treatment system is recommended after you determine the source of your gross alpha radiation.
• If testing shows that your water is between 5 and 15 pCi/L, testing for Radium 226 and 228 is recommended.
• If testing shows that your water is less than 5 pCi/L, no further action is recommended.

Where can I find out more information regarding Radium and Uranium?

• Please check out the fact sheets on Radium and Uranium for more information.