Radionuclides · 2023
Gross Alpha in Philadelphia, PA tap water
Philadelphia, PA's 2023 Consumer Confidence Report shows Gross Alpha at or above the federal limit (15 pCi/L MCL). Measured value is 15.2× the threshold.
The measurement
| Statistic | Value | Federal limit |
|---|---|---|
Reported level Column 2 | 228 pCi/L | None set |
Highest single sample System-wide | 5.32 pCi/L | 15 pCi/L MCL |
Range System-wide | 0–5.32 pCi/L | 15 pCi/L MCL |
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.
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 pCi/L. Philadelphia, PA's 2023 Consumer Confidence Report shows Gross Alpha at or above the federal limit (15 pCi/L MCL). Measured value is 15.2× the threshold.
+What's the federal limit for Gross Alpha in drinking water?
The federal MCL for Gross Alpha is 15 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.
+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.