Uranium In The Water

When local officials announced last week that they had decided to test groundwater throughout town for elevated levels of uranium in drinking water, the alarmed reaction in town was predictable. One television station didn’t help matters when it sought to promote its coverage in a teaser by proclaiming “Radioactivity in Newtown!” While Newtowners didn’t exactly rush outside to look for mushroom clouds, many people were worried that something could be seriously wrong with our water supply, especially after learning of elevated levels of uranium in the water at Middle Gate School.

Health District Director Mark Cooper went to great lengths this week to assure townspeople that Newtown is not facing an extraordinary health threat. Uranium in groundwater is really quite ordinary, and he cautioned against making any connection between the heavy metal and health problems. He went so far as to suggest that the medical establishment has found no such link. That may be going a little too far. The federal Environmental Protection Agency’s National Primary Drinking Water Regulation, which sets the standards for acceptable levels of uranium in drinking water, details the effects of uranium as a nephrotoxic (toxic to kidneys) metal. (You can find this information on the Internet at www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-GENERAL/2000/December/Day-07/g30421.htm.) The EPA has some human data that indicates “mild” toxicity of uranium in water at levels below those found at Middle Gate School.

While it is true that there is nothing to be alarmed about at this point, it does not necessarily follow that there is nothing at all to be worried about. That is why the town is taking the prudent step of conducting widespread tests. The overall levels of uranium in Newtown’s drinking water may be no higher than those of any other town – it’s just that we happen to be testing for it. But if it does turn out to be a problem, then we need to know about it. To that end, we urge all homeowners who are approached by local health officials for water samples to cooperate fully. Our best response to this development should not be panic or alarm, but rational investigation.