What this tracks
This dataset records radiological testing results from groundwater wells in Kansas between 1985-2001, including uranium, radium, and radon levels.
Why it matters to you
If you rely on well water in Kansas, this data shows whether your area historically had elevated radiation levels that might still affect groundwater today. Homeowners could use it to decide whether to test their well before drinking untreated water, especially in counties like Butler (BU) where samples showed uranium levels at 15 pCi/L (above the EPA’s 30 pCi/L maximum contaminant level for drinking water).
How to read this data
Gross_Uranium_pCi/L — Measures uranium concentration; sample value “15” means 15 picocuries per liter (pCi/L). EPA’s limit is 30 pCi/L.
Radon-222_pCi/L — Measures radon gas; sample value “685” is nearly 7x higher than EPA’s recommended action level of 300 pCi/L for indoor air (no federal standard exists for water).
SITE_NAME — Identifies the well location; sample “SG04WHITEWATER#02” refers to a public well in Whitewater.
Try it yourself
Check if your county (like “BU” for Butler) appears in the dataset, then contact KDHE for current well testing recommendations if radiological levels were historically high near you.