Guidelines on compliance with the requirements of the Drinking Water Ordinance in the testing and evaluation of radioactive substances in drinking water: Recommendation of the BMUB, BMG, BfS, UBA, responsible state authorities, the DVGW and the BDEW

Abstract

On behalf of the then Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU), the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) carried out an extensive research programme from 2003 to 2008 to determine data on the content of natural radionuclides in drinking water and the resulting radiation exposure [BfS 2009]. These studies have shown that there is a significant natural occurrence of radioactivity in drinking water in certain regions of Germany, especially in central and southern Germany. Radiation exposure to radionuclides in drinking water is very low on average and health hazards can generally be ruled out. Nevertheless, the BfS testing programme showed that the fluctuation range of the concentrations of natural radionuclides in drinking water is very wide, and that in individual cases precautionary measures to reduce these concentrations would be appropriate.