Do Brita Filters Remove Radium from Drinking Water: A Homeowner’s Guide

If you have radium in your drinking water, it is important to remove it as soon as possible. Radium is a radioactive element that can cause serious health problems if you are exposed to it for too long. As a concerned homeowner, you may be wondering if Brita filters remove radium from drinking water.

Although Brita filters can remove many contaminants such as lead and chlorine from drinking water, they are not designed to treat water contaminated with radium. Brita filters can reduce the level of radium in water, but they can’t remove 100% of it. Depending on which filter you use, you may see a reduction in the concentration of radium of 10 to 45%. Given radon’s toxicity, this is not enough.

If you have radium in your water, the best way to remove it is to install a reverse osmosis system. This type of system uses a semipermeable membrane to remove contaminants from water. A reverse osmosis system can remove up to 99% of radium from drinking water, making it an effective treatment method.

In this article, we discuss radon contamination of drinking water, which methods of treatment are available to remove radium, and how to choose the best one for your needs.

Continue reading to learn everything you need to know about removing radium from your drinking water.

What is Radium

Radium (Ra) is a chemical element in the alkaline earth family. Radium-226, the most common isotope, is a highly radioactive substance. Radium was discovered in 1898 and was used to make luminous paint for watches and switches. Today, it is used in nuclear medicine, but it has few other practical applications. Radium is not required for healthy living and there is no known safe level of exposure, unlike other elements.

How does radium get in my water

A new study revealed that more than half of Americans could be consuming water tainted with radium. It is estimated that as many as 170 million people across the country are exposed to unsafe levels of radium every day. Radium is a naturally occurring element that can be found in many places, including rock and soil. Groundwater in contact with these minerals dissolves the radium and carries it into aquifers, where it can end up in your drinking water.

The oil & gas industry is another major source for radiological pollution around the world. Surface water usually has very little radium, but groundwater can have high concentrations of this element depending on the local geology. Some of the deep bedrock aquifers that are used for drinking water have Ra-226 and Ra-228 levels that exceed recommended health standards.

Health concerns with radium

Radium is a known carcinogen. Studies have shown that it can cause bone cancer, as well as other forms of cancer. Radium exposure has also been linked to an increased risk of birth defects and miscarriages. There is no safe level of radium exposure, which is why it is so important to remove this element from your drinking water.

Drinking water standard for radium

The USEPA has established a maximum contaminant level (MCL) for radium in drinking water supplies of 5 picoCuries per liter (pCi/L). The MCL is the concentration of a contaminant below which health effects have not been observed and thus assumed to protect public health. Public water supplies that have levels exceeding this limit are to notify people about MCL exceedances.

Test Your Drinking Water for Radium

Brita Filter Performance with radium

Brita filters use activated carbon adsorption as the main treatment method. Activated carbon is not very effective at removing radium from water. This means that if your water has high levels of radium, a Brita filter will not be able to remove all of it.

How well do Brita filters remove radium

The removal efficiency of Brita filters for Ra-226 and Ra-228 is very limited. Testing with the standard Brita pitcher filter indicated a removal of only 1% at a pH of 6.5 and 6.7% at a pH of 8.5.

What is the maximum concentration of radium Brita filters can remove

Testing conducted on Brita’s standard filter revealed that it was able to remove radium from water at a rate of between 11 and 44 percent. The performance of Brita’s filters varies depending on the model. The higher-end models have been shown to be more effective at removing radium from water.

It is important to note that Brita filters are not designed to remove radium from water. They are only meant to reduce the level of contaminants, such as chlorine, that can make water taste and smell bad. If you have radium in your water, Brita filters may be able to reduce the level of contamination, but they will not likely be able to meet the drinking water standard.

Brita claims about radium

Brita does not mention radium removal on their website. Given the limited treatment efficiency, they would not claim that their filters can remove radium from drinking water.

Learn more about Brita filters and the contaminants they can remove from drinking water.

What Treatment Methods Remove Radium from Drinking Water

Reverse osmosis, Ion exchange (water softening), chemical precipitation, and adsorption with manganese oxide are all common methods for removing radium from water.

1 – Reverse osmosis removes radium

Reverse osmosis can remove up to 90 percent of radium. A two-stage RO filter can remove 95% or more of the radium Reverse osmosis works by forcing water through a semi-permeable membrane. The pores in the membrane are small enough to remove radium, but large enough to allow water molecules to pass through.

The concentrated radium solution, known as brine, is radioactive and has to be properly managed. Reverse osmosis systems are typically installed under the kitchen sink, but they can also be used as whole-house systems.

2 – Ion exchange removes radium

Conventional water softeners that use ion exchange resin can remove between 50 and 80 percent of radium. This is the same process and equipment used to remove hardness from drinking water.

Enhanced lime softening can remove up to 90 percent of radium and uranium and may also remove arsenic, iron, and manganese. Lime softening is the process of adding lime or quicklime to the water in order to raise the pH and precipitate calcium. In enhanced softening, the pH is increased to at least 10.6 SUs to also remove magnesium.

3 – Chemical precipitation removes radium

A very effective technique to remove radium from water is with co-precipitation of barium. This method involves adding barium chloride to the contaminated water. This leads to the co-precipitation of radium and barium ions as sulphates. Chemical precipitation can remove up to 95% of radium from drinking water. However, this method is not suitable for residential water treatment due to the complicated equipment and chemical management required.

4 – Adsorption with MnO2 removes radium

A recent study revealed that radium can be removed from water through adsorption onto precipitated MnO2. The adsorption step is followed by filtration with diatomaceous earth (DE) to remove the MnO2 and radium. This process removes 80 to 97% of the radium. Like chemical precipitation, this method is not suitable for residential water treatment. However, it could be used on a larger scale to remove radium from drinking water supplies.

Brita Product Summary

Brita has an extensive line of filtration products to meet your water treatment needs. Their filters include:

• Pitcher filters
• Faucet filters
• Bottle filters
• Dispenser filters
• Replacement filters

Brita pitcher filters

Brita has 12 pitcher filter models available. They come in capacities ranging from 6 to 12 cups, a variety of features, and many color options.

Depending on which pitcher filter you have, you can choose between three different replaceable filters. I have a review and summary of them in the section below.

Features you may want to consider include:

• Autofill lid – Pitchers with autofill lid option don’t have a lid, so you don’t have to lift it up to fill the reservoir.
• Easy-fill lid – Similar to autofill lids, pitchers with this option don’t have a lid to lift up.
• Electronic filter indicator – The filter indicator lets you know when it’s time to replace a spent filter. It is activated when the lid opens for 5-8 seconds (based on size of reservoir) and measures how much water has been treated by keeping count of the number of times it’s filled.
• Filter-As-You-Pour technology – This innovation eliminates the need for a reservoir, so you have instant access to treated water without having to wait for the entire pitcher volume to be treated.
•  Locking lid – This cap prevents dust and debris from falling into the filter reservoir.
• Smart Light filter indicator – This indicator records the amount of water flowing out of the pitcher when the jug is tilted during usage. It has a green, yellow, and red indicating light to let you know how much filtration capacity is left.

Here is a summary of Brita’s current filter pitchers and their key features.

Brita Faucet Filters

Brita has a line of faucet filters that you can install on your kitchen or bathroom faucet to provide clean drinking water.

There are two main models of Brita faucet filters with different features:

1. Basic Water Filter Faucet System – This filter attaches onto any standard faucet. Itt comes with one 100-gallon filter which removes 99% lead from tap waters making them safe for drinking or cooking. It also reduces chlorine (taste/odor), benzene, asbestos, and trichloroethylene concentrations.
2. Complete Water Filter Faucet System – This system attaches easily to your sink faucet and includes two 100 gallon filters. These filters remove 99% of lead as well as chlorine (taste/odor), benzene, asbestos, and trichloroethylene.

Brita Dispenser Filters

Brita has a line of dispenser filters that are designed to sit on your countertop and provide clean, filtered water for you and your family.

There are two main models of Brita dispenser filters:

Brita filter elements

Brita has replaceable filter elements for all of the water treatment products. The pitcher filters and Dispenser filters can use either the Elite or Standard filters.

Here is a description of the filter elements the Brita offers including pricing, capacity, service life, and other important information.

How do you replace a spent Brita filter and install a new one?

The Standard Brita pitcher filter should be replaced every two months or 40 gallons, whichever comes first. Elite filters are replaced after treating 100 gallons or every six months.

To replace your filter:

1. Rinse your Brita Standard Filter with cold water for 15 seconds.
2. Insert the filter into the reservoir by lining up the groove in the filter with the ridge in the reservoir. Press firmly for a tight seal.
3. Add cold tap water. Discard your first three pitchers of filtered water or use it to water plants. It’s normal for carbon dust to appear in your first few fillings.

Brita Filter Maintenance

Britia filters have a consumable filter element that needs to be replaced every 100 gallons or about every four months. The frequency of replacement will depend on the specific filter you have and how much water you use.

It is important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for replacing the filter. This will ensure your Brita filter continues to work properly.

How often do I need to replace my Brita filter

Each model of Brita filter has a recommended service life. Brita’s recommendations are summarized in the following table.

Model	Volume of Water	Time
Longlast+	120 gallons	6 months
Longlast	100 gallons	4 months
Standard Brita pitcher filter	100 gallons	4 months
Faucet filter	100 gallons	4 months

Overview of Brita Filters

Brita filters are a type of pitcher filter that uses particle filtration and activated carbon adsorption to remove contaminants from drinking water. Activated carbon is a very effective treatment method for removing a wide variety of contaminant, including glyphosate, from water.

How they work

Brita filters include sediment filters and granular activated to purify drinking water. The activated carbon in the filters adsorbs a wide range of contaminants such as VOCs, solvents, herbicides, and pesticides from the water.

Water is poured into the pitcher reservoir where it flows via gravity through the filters. The contaminants are adsorbed to the activated carbon in the filters and the clean water is collected in the pitcher.

NSF certification

NSF International is an independent organization that tests and certifies products to ensure they meet safety and performance standards. Several Brita filters are certified by NSF to remove a wide range of contaminants from drinking water, including VOCs, solvents, herbicides, and pesticides.

NSF certification is a great way to confirm the claims made by equipment manufacturers. NSF conducts testing in accordance with strict protocols and issues certifications to products that meet their standards.

FAQs

Does boiling water remove radium?

Boiling water does not remove radium. In fact, boiling increases the concentration of radium because water evaporates and leaves behind the radium.

What is the best way to remove radium from water?

The best way to remove radium from water is with a reverse osmosis system. This type of system can remove up to 90 percent of radium from your water supply.

Do ZeroWater filters remove radium from water?

Unlike Brita filters, ZeroWater filters are designed to remove radium from water. The ZeroWater filtration system uses a five-stage filtration process to remove 99.9999% of radium from your drinking water.

Is it safe to drink water with radium?

No, it is not safe to drink water with radium. Radium is a radioactive element that can cause cancer. If you are concerned about radium in your drinking water, you should have it tested and install a water treatment system to remove the radium.

Final Take on Brita Filters and Radium

If you are concerned about radium in your drinking water, you should have it tested and install a water treatment system to remove the radium. The best way to remove radium from water is with a reverse osmosis system. This type of system can remove up to 90 percent of radium from your water supply. Brita filters are not designed to remove radium from water.