Radionuclides · 2023
Gross Alpha in Philadelphia, PA tap water
Philadelphia, PA's 2023 report shows Gross Alpha detected, but the EPA has not set an enforceable federal limit for it.
The measurement
| Statistic | Value | Federal limit |
|---|---|---|
Highest single sample System-wide | 5.32 | 15 MCL |
Range System-wide | 0–5.32 | 15 MCL |
Reported level Column 2 | 228 | None set |
Verbatim from Philadelphia, PA's 2023 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 Philadelphia, PA 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 Philadelphia, PA tap water?
Yes — Philadelphia, PA's 2023 Consumer Confidence Report lists Gross Alpha at 228. Philadelphia, PA's 2023 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 MCL for Gross Alpha is 15 . 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 2023 Consumer Confidence Report published by the Philadelphia, PA 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/pa/philadelphia/2023/source.