To investigate the natural reduction characteristics of radon with a short half-life (3.82 day) in drinking Qgroundwater, we analyzed the changes of radon concentrations of groundwater, waters in storage tanks, and tap waters from the small-scale groundwater-supply systems (N = 301) by LSC (Liquid Scintillation Counter). We also analyzed the concentrations of uranium (half-life 4.5 billion years) in the waters by ICP/MS to compare with natural reduction of radon concentration. The radon concentrations of 68 groundwater-supply systems occupying 22.6% of the total samples exceeded the US EPA's Alternative Maximum Contaminant Level (AMCL : 4,000 pCi/L), with the average radon concentration of 7,316 pCi/L (groundwaters), 3,833 pCi/L (tank waters) and 3,407 pCi/L (tap waters). Compared to the radon levels of pumped groundwaters, those of tank and tap waters naturally reduced significantly down to about 50%. Especially, in case of 29 groundwater-supply systems with the groundwater radon concentrations of 4,000~6,000 pCi/L, average radon concentrations of the tank and tap waters naturally decreased down to the AMCL. Therefore this study implies that radon concentrations of drinking groundwater can be effectively reduced by sufficient storage and residence in tanks.

Keywords: Radon;Natural reduction;Groundwater;Tank and tap water;AMCL;