Gross Beta in Connecticut Drinking Water
By Alexander Snyder, Founder & Water Quality Data Lead
The U.S. EPA sets the legal limit for Gross Beta at 4 mrem/year. Health-based guidelines are frequently stricter than this federal legal limit, so a level that is legal is not always health-protective.
“The U.S. EPA has set the Maximum Contaminant Level Goal for Gross Beta at zero, because there is no level of exposure below which there is no risk of adverse health effects.”— U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG)
Gross Beta has been detected in 138 Connecticut ZIP codes. Here is what you need to know about gross beta in your drinking water and how it may affect your household.
What Is Gross Beta?
Gross beta activity is a screening measurement for beta-emitting radioactive particles in water, including potassium-40, strontium-90, and tritium. It indicates the total beta radiation level rather than a single radionuclide. The EPA maximum contaminant level is 4 millirem per year. Elevated gross beta readings are associated with increased cancer risk, particularly leukemia and bone cancer from long-term exposure.
Is Gross Beta in Your Water?
Enter your Connecticut ZIP code to find out if gross beta is in your local water — and see personalized health risks for your household.
Check Your ZIP CodeHealth Effects of Gross Beta
Increased cancer risk (bone, liver, lung, leukemia), bone damage, kidney damage, developmental effects
Safety Guidelines
Legal Limit (MCL)
4 mrem/year
EPA Maximum Contaminant Level
Gross Beta's health-based safe level is set below the federal legal limit.
| Standard | Level | Source |
|---|---|---|
| EPA Legal Limit (MCL) | 4 mrem/year | EPA |
Where Does Gross Beta Come From?
Naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM), uranium mining/processing, nuclear facilities, phosphate fertilizers, granite rock formations
How to Reduce Gross Beta in Your Water
- 1Install a point-of-use reverse osmosis system certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 58, which removes the majority of dissolved radionuclides that contribute to gross beta activity.
- 2Use an ion exchange system, either cation or anion exchange depending on the specific radionuclide identified, to target the primary contributors to the elevated reading.
- 3Request a detailed radiological analysis from a certified laboratory to identify which specific beta-emitting radionuclides are present before selecting a treatment approach.
- 4Replace filter membranes and dispose of spent media according to your state's radioactive material guidelines, and retest water annually to confirm continued performance.
Who Is Most Vulnerable to Gross Beta?
The safe level of gross beta varies significantly depending on who is drinking the water. CheckYourTap calculates adjusted safe levels for each member of your household:
A contaminant level that is safe for an adult may exceed guidelines for an infant by 4-8x or more. Check your ZIP code to see personalized results.
Reading this inside ChatGPT or Claude?
This page can tell you the general science, but not what is actually in your water’s gross beta level — that depends on your exact address. You can get your specific answer two ways:
- Inside the chat: ask your assistant to “check my tap water with CheckYourTap”. Our connector returns your ZIP code’s measured contaminant levels — including the derived dog and cat safe levels — and, only if you ask it to, can email you the report or arrange a specialist callback.
- On the web: open CheckYourTap.com and enter your ZIP code for a free 30-second report.
Concerned about Gross Beta in your water?
Schedule to get your water tested for gross beta and more — a Valiant water specialist will review your results and arrange testing for your home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gross Beta in my tap water?▾
What level of Gross Beta is safe?▾
How do I remove Gross Beta from my water?▾
Related Contaminants
Check Water Quality by ZIP Code
Sources
The legal limits and health guidelines for Gross Beta on this page come from the following public authorities:
About This Report
This water quality report is compiled from public records filed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, state health departments, and the U.S. Geological Survey. Contaminant levels are evaluated against EPA federal standards and health-based guidelines from leading environmental and public health organizations. CheckYourTap is a service of Valiant Energy Solutions, a Connecticut water quality and energy services company established in 1930.
This report is general information, not medical advice or a substitute for certified laboratory testing. Talk to your pediatrician or physician about specific health concerns.
Reviewed by the CheckYourTap editorial team. Last updated July 2026