Strontium-90 in Drinking Water: Health Risks, Sources, and How to Remove It
Strontium-90 is a radionuclide contaminant that can sometimes be found in drinking water. It is classified under the radionuclide category by the EPA, which has established a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 8 pCi/L for this substance. Monitoring and regulating this contaminant helps ensure that public drinking water supplies remain safe.
Health Effects
Exposure to Strontium-90 in drinking water is linked to an increased risk of cancer. Consuming water with elevated levels of this radionuclide over time can increase this health risk. Because of these potential long-term health concerns, maintaining levels below the established MCL is critical.
How Strontium-90 Gets Into Tap Water
Strontium-90 is introduced into the environment primarily through nuclear weapons fallout. It can also enter water systems due to releases from nuclear power plants. These activities can result in the radionuclide settling into soil and contaminating water supplies.
How to Remove Strontium-90 From Your Water
Specific treatment systems are capable of reducing the levels of this contaminant. Treatment methods such as lime softening and ion exchange are commonly utilized to remove Strontium-90 from drinking water. These processes are effective at lowering radionuclide concentrations to safe levels.
Should You Test Your Water?
You can check your local consumer confidence report or search the WaterQ database to see if Strontium-90 has been detected in your municipal water supply. If you rely on a private well near potential sources of radionuclide contamination, consider having your water tested by a certified laboratory. You can also look up your local water system on WaterQ or check the Strontium-90 data page for reported levels in your area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Strontium-90 dangerous in drinking water?
Yes, Strontium-90 is a radionuclide contaminant that poses health concerns when present in drinking water. Exposure to this substance is associated with an increased risk of cancer. It is regulated with an EPA MCL of 8 pCi/L to minimize these health risks.
How does Strontium-90 get into tap water?
Strontium-90 gets into tap water sources through nuclear weapons fallout and releases from nuclear power plants.
How can I remove Strontium-90 from my water?
You can remove Strontium-90 from your water using treatment methods such as lime softening or ion exchange.
Source: EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations and WaterQ National Database. For more contaminants, visit our contaminant library.
What actually removes gross alpha, gross beta and strontium-90
Gross alpha and gross beta are screening measurements rather than specific contaminants — a high reading tells you radioactivity is present and the follow-up test tells you which isotope. That distinction matters for treatment: radium responds to a softener, uranium to anion exchange, and reverse osmosis covers most of them at the drinking tap. Carbon does nothing. Do not buy hardware off a gross alpha number alone; pay for the isotope-specific test first.
Works
- Reverse osmosis (NSF 58)The broadest removal available at home: arsenic, nitrate, fluoride, PFAS, TDS.
- Ion-exchange water softenerThe only real fix for hard water. Also very effective on radium.
- Anion exchangeWhole-house option for nitrate and uranium on well water.
Will not fix this
- Basic activated carbon (NSF 42)
- Carbon certified for lead (NSF 53)
- UV disinfection (NSF 55)
- Boiling Makes it worse — evaporation concentrates what's left behind.
Test before you buy.Gross alpha, gross beta and strontium-90 can't be seen, tasted or smelled, and the right hardware depends on the concentration you actually have. A certified lab test costs a fraction of the wrong filtration system. Start with your local water quality report, and get a mail-in lab test if you're on a private well.
Options that carry the right certification
Ordered cheapest-adequate first. Prices are indicative bands and move often.
| Product | Certification | Upfront | Per year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| APEC ROES-50 EssenceUnder-sink | Built with WQA-certified components to NSF/ANSI 58.Catch:Needs an under-sink drain connection and a spare hole for the dedicated faucet. Strips minerals — some people dislike the flat taste. | $180–240 | $50–80 | Check price |
| Fleck 5600SXT Metered SoftenerWhole house | Standard metered ion-exchange softener valve, the long-time reference design.Catch:Adds sodium to your water and needs a drain plus salt refills. Does nothing for lead, PFAS or nitrate. | $600–900 | $60–150 | Check price |
| iSpring RCC7AK 6-Stage ROUnder-sink | WQA Gold Seal certified to NSF/ANSI 58.Catch:The alkaline remineralization stage adds minerals back, which slightly raises TDS readings — expected, not a fault. | $200–280 | $60–90 | Check price |
Certification listings change. Before buying, confirm the current listing for the exact model in the NSF certified products database — a manufacturer's marketing page is not a certification. WaterQ earns a commission on purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you; see our affiliate disclosure. This is general information, not medical or engineering advice.
For a full breakdown of certifications, running costs and the models worth considering, see our buying guide for gross alpha, gross beta and strontium-90.