[The potability of the water in a region with a high level of natural radiation].

BACKGROUND

The recent Spanish legislation on drinkable waters for public use includes a paragraph establishing the requirements to be fulfilled by waters in relation with their radioactivity and the methods to be used to measure it. As water radioactivity depends on the radioactive content of the grounds and rocks where it flows, it is possible to expect high levels in those zones whose characteristic is their high level of natural radiation.

METHODS

For this reason, we have organized two measurement campaigns with the objective of characterizing the drinkable waters in an Spanish area, where the radioactive elements concentration in the ground is high. The methodology used is as described in legislation, using a low-bottomed proportional counter.

RESULTS

The results we have obtained indicate that the zone, where measurements have been made, shows lower radioactivity levels than the legally established limits, nevertheless, at same time, there appear several points, where the radioactivity levels are high, showing values exceeding in great measure the legal limit for drinkable waters.

CONCLUSIONS

With the results, we have obtained, its seems necessary that a greater attention is paid to drinkable waters in those points, where the radioactivity levels are high including corrective measures.