Radionuclides · 2024
Gross Alpha in New Bedford, MA tap water
New Bedford, MA's 2024 report shows Gross Alpha detected, but the EPA has not set an enforceable federal limit for it.
The measurement
| Statistic | Value | Federal limit |
|---|---|---|
Range Range Detected | 0.5 pCi/L | 0 pCi/L MCLG |
Verbatim from New Bedford, MA's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report — source document ↗
About Gross Alpha
Gross alpha particle activity — a combined measure of alpha-emitting radioactive substances.
Long-term exposure above the federal limit increases cancer risk.
How New Bedford, MA compares
4 of the 186 systems measuring Gross Alpha on The Water Map have it at or above the federal limit:
Nearby systems also reporting Gross Alpha:
People also ask
+Is there Gross Alpha in New Bedford, MA tap water?
Yes — New Bedford, MA's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report lists Gross Alpha at 0.5 pCi/L. New Bedford, MA's 2024 report shows Gross Alpha detected, but the EPA has not set an enforceable federal limit for it.
+What's the federal limit for Gross Alpha in drinking water?
The federal MCLG for Gross Alpha is 0 pCi/L. The EPA enforces this against the regulated reporting statistic (running annual average or 90th percentile), not a single-sample spike.
+What is Gross Alpha?
Gross alpha particle activity — a combined measure of alpha-emitting radioactive substances. Long-term exposure above the federal limit increases cancer risk.
+Which other U.S. cities have Gross Alpha over the federal limit?
4 of the 186 systems on The Water Map measuring Gross Alpha report it at or above the federal limit. Examples include Pomona, CA, Birmingham, AL, Burbank, CA.
+Where does this Gross Alpha measurement come from?
This page reproduces the Gross Alpha entry from the 2024 Consumer Confidence Report published by the New Bedford, MA water utility — the annual drinking-water report every U.S. utility is required by federal law to publish. The original source document is archived at /water/ma/new-bedford/2024/source.