Monitoring is required to provide information to consumers and health officials that are concerned about sodium intake due to dietary precautions. If you are on a sodium-restricted diet, you should consult a physician about this level of sodium in the water. The Village of Lemont public water supply wishes to advise its customers that the maximum allowable concentration for gross alpha has been exceeded in samples collected from Well No.5 during the past year. This notification is being issued for informational purposes. Should a hazard exist, immediate notification will be made.
Gross alpha is the measurement of the total amount of radiation given off by water.
Some forms of radiation can occur naturally in water. If the water is drawn from a formation that contains deposits of radioactive minerals, a small amount will dissolve and be present in the water. Operators of water systems exceeding the gross alpha standard are required to notify consumers on a quarterly basis. Long-term consumption of water containing alpha emitters in excess of the maximum contaminant level may result in an increased risk of getting cancer. At the levels detected, the short-term risk is minimal and no special precautions need to be taken by the consumer at this time.