What is Radon?

 

Radon is a radioactive gas that has been found in homes all over the U.S.   You can't see, smell or taste it.  But it may be a problem in your home. The only way to know if your house has high level of radon is to have it tested. That is because when you breathe air containing Radon, you increase your risk of getting lung cancer.  In fact, the Surgeon General has warned that Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today.  If you smoke and your home has high Radon levels, the risk of lung cancer is especially higher. 

 

Radon comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water and gets into the air you breathe.  Radon typically moves up through the ground to the air above and into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation.  Your home can trap radon inside. 

 

Any home can have a Radon problem. This means new and old homes, well sealed and drafty homes, and homes with or without basements.  In fact, you and your family are most likely to get your greatest radiation exposure at home.   That is where you spend most of your time.

 

Nearly 1 out of 15 homes in the U.S. is estimated to have elevated Radon levels.  Elevated levels of Radon gas have been found in homes in your state.  The only way to tell if your home has Radon is to test for it. That is why the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) recommends all homes get tested for Radon. 

 

 

LEAD PAINT HAZARDS

Lead-based paint is poisonous. The dust and chips from lead-based paint are dangerous when swallowed or inhaled. The smallest lead dust particles cannot be seen but they can get into the body. They are especially dangerous to small children and pregnant women. Lead can affect children's developing nervous systems, causing reduced IQ and learning disabilities.

Lead poisoning affects adults, too. High lead levels can cause health problems including high blood pressure, headaches, digestive problems, memory and concentration problems, kidney damage, mood changes, nerve disorders, sleep disturbances, and muscle or joint pain. A single, very high exposure to lead can cause lead poisoning. Lead can also affect the ability of both women and men to have healthy children.

A home built before 1978 is likely to have surfaces painted with lead-based paint. When you work on these surfaces you can be exposed to lead. Dry-sanding lead-based paint can produce dust and chips. Scraping, brushing, or blasting lead-based paint can produce poisonous paint chips or dust. Burning lead-based paint with open flame torches to make it easier to strip is especially dangerous. The fumes from the hot paint contain lead and volatile chemicals that are poisonous when inhaled.EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has proposed regulations that would require renovation and remodeling contractors to provide the EPA pamphlet, Lead-Based Paint: Protect Your Family, to homeowners and occupants of most pre-1978 homes before they begin work. You should contact the National Lead Information Clearinghouse (800-424-LEAD) to get further information on the availability of the pamphlet.

Other Numbers:

State Lead Program Contact - Wisconsin: (608) 266-5885

National Lead Information Center: (800) LEAD-FYI

YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS

Well & Septic Systems

"Out of sight out of mind" - is how you think about the well and septic system at your home? Does your water come from Lake Superior and your toilet waste go to Lake Michigan?

Your well and private sewage system are the most important environmental protection systems in your home. These systems can affect the health of your family and community.

YOU DEPEND ON YOUR WELL

Your family depends on the well as its source of water. You use water for drinking, food preparation, bathing, and to carry your waste water out of the house.

Ground water is normally free from harmful bacteria. This is because layers of soil filter and purify water that starts out on the earth's surface. Your well draws water from below the ground surface.

WATER QUALITY

The most important aspect of water quality is bacteriological safety. Harmful bacteria in your water can make you sick. You want to make sure that no one becomes ill when drinking the water.

Water quality is affected by dissolved minerals. Some of these include iron, hardness, fluoride, and chlorides. The levels of these minerals in your water can affect its taste, odor or appearance.

Since changes in water quality can occur, testing is the best way to learn about your water quality. We recommend testing your well water annually for the presence of harmful bacteria.

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR WELL

You can protect your well by preventing contamination from entering it. One way is to direct surface water sources, such as rain water downspouts, water softener discharge, or foundation water sump pump discharge, away from the well. Another method is to have a "vermin proof" well cap installed to prevent insects from entering the well. Vermin-proof well caps are required on all new wells constructed after January 31, 1991.

YOU DEPEND ON YOUR SEPTIC SYSTEM

Septic systems are used for the treatment and disposal of waste water in localities where sewers are not available. Household sewage is water-carried waste from toilets, laundry washers, garbage disposals, and sinks.

As sewage waste exits the house, the septic system treats the waste and disposes it beneath the ground surface where it is filtered by the soil. This filtering action removes harmful bacteria from the waste water prior to its entering the groundwater.

HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR SEPTIC SYSTEM

Proper care of your private sewage system can result in a cost savings due to longer system life. The main goal of any household practice would be to protect the soil absorption area.

KNOW WHAT NOT TO FLUSH

What you put into your septic system greatly affects its ability to do its job. As a rule. Do not put anything in your septic system that should not be put in the trash.

Don't dispose the following in your septic system:

1) Grease, cooking oils, food scraps, coffee grounds, and garbage disposal waste.

2) Materials that will not decompose, such as paper towels, feminine hygiene products including the wrappers, cigarette butts, facial tissues, baby wipes, and disposable diapers.

3) Washing machine water that has not passed through a lint trap. (All laundry water is sewage and must be discharged  to the sanitary system.)

LEARN WAYS TO CONSERVE WATER

Reducing the volume of water used within the household can reduce the amount of waste being discharged to your soil absorption field. Because sewage entering the tank is retained longer, more time is available to allow the solids to settle out and be digested by bacterial action. Excessive amounts of water strains the system unnecessarily.

The following are recommended water conservation tips:

1) Repair dripping faucets, float valves, etc.

2) Install reduced flow plumbing fixtures or water saving devices.

a) Low-flow shower heads

b) Suds-saver washing machines

c) Low-flow toilets (5,500 gal/person/yr can be saved compared to a 5 gal/flush toilet)

3) Direct water softener backwash water outside if it does not create a nuisance, or to a hand dug pit.

LEARN HOW TO PLAN WATER USE

Proper planning of your water use increases septic system life longevity. Rescheduling optional peak water use activates to off peak times reduces the amount of suspended solids discharged from the septic tank

Here are some suggestions:

1) Water usage should be spread throughout the week.

2) Wash clothes over a period of several days, trying not to wash more than one load per day.

3) Wash full machine loads of dishes and clothing during non-peak hours. Some dishwashers have delay-start timers to make this option easier.

SEPTIC TANK CLEANING

There are several reasons to regularly pump a septic tank. The first is to remove scum and sludge which builds up in the tank. The second reason is to inspect the tank to insure it is structurally sound, to inspect the baffles, and to identify any potential problems with the septic system's operation that may cause the system to fail prematurely. A licensed sewage hauler can pump the tank and identify potential operational problems.

A septic tank needs to be cleaned every 2-3 years. Under the Waukesha County Maintenance Program, pumping notices are sent to property owners that were issued sanitary permits after July 1, 1979.

KNOW WHERE THE PARTS OF YOUR SEPTIC SYSTEM ARE LOCATED

Mark the manhole cover location to make the job of searching for the septic tank easier.

A septic system is expensive to replace. Know where the septic tank, pump tank, absorption area, and replacement absorption areas are located. The septic system can be damaged by driving vehicles over it or by building sheds, a pool, or deck over its parts.

WHAT IF YOU HAVE MORE QUESTIONS

Environmental Health sanitarians are Certified Soil Testers (CST), Privately Owned Wastewater Treatment System Inspectors (POWTS) and Private Well Inspectors. The sanitarians are certified to provide an evaluation of your private well, private sewage system or both. To request these services or to provide information on private wells, water testing, soils or private sewage systems, contact the office below.

WAUKESHA COUNTY

Department of Parks and Land Use

Environmental Health Division

1320 Pewaukee Road, Room 260

Waukesha, WI 53188

Phone: 414-896-8300

 

SMOKE DETECTORS

Wisconsin law requires both owner-occupied and rental homes and other residential buildings to be protected by smoke alarms. Owners must install and maintain them, and tenants must inform the owner of any detector problems.

WHY ARE SMOKE DETECTORS NECESSARY?

Facts: In 1996, 56 Wisconsinites died in dwelling fires. Most of these deaths were caused by smoke inhalation, not burns. Hundreds more Wisconsinites were seriously and painfully injured. Working smoke detectors have been shown to reduce your risk of death by fire by one-half. They also have the secondary effect of protecting your property.

WHAT KIND OF DETECTORS ARE REQUIRED?

All detectors must be Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or equivalent listed smoke detectors either of ionization or photo-electric types. (Heat detectors, which respond slower, may only be used in addition to smoke detectors.) Cost is between $5 to $100 per detector depending on features.

WHERE MUST THEY BE  INSTALLED?

For  one- and two- family dwellings, the owner must install at least one smoke detector on each floor level of each unit, including the basement and any finished attic. It is recommended that they first be placed between each sleeping area and the rest of the house, and then above the base of any stairs on other floor levels. If the dwelling was permitted after December 1, 1994, then each separate sleeping area on a floor requires a separate detector.

HOW SHOULD THEY BE INSTALLED?

They should be installed per the manufacturer's instructions: Typical requirements for smoke detectors include:

1) Mounting on the bottom of any exposed basement ceiling joists.

2) If mounted on the ceiling, then placing at least 4 inches from the wall.

3) If mounted on a wall, (required for mobile homes) then placing between 4 to 12 inches from the ceiling. (There is usually a dead air space where the ceiling and wall meet.)

4) Mounting within 3 feet of the highest part of any peaked or sloped ceiling.

5) Mounting at least 3 feet away from any window, door or air register where drafts could prevent smoke from reaching the detector.

6) Mounting away from kitchens where cooking could cause false alarms and subsequent disconnection. It is recommended that smoke detectors with a temporary reduced-sensitivity switch be installed near kitchens

7) Not installing where subject to temperature extremes, excess humidity or heavy dust such as in bathrooms, unheated garages or attics.

WHAT MAINTENANCE IS REQUIRED?

According to recent fire reports, one-third of the detectors in the same room as the fire origin did not operate. Therefore, it is required that they be maintained per the manufacturer's instructions which typically include:

1) Changing any batteries at least once a year or more often if the low battery warning activates.

2) Changing any photo-electric bulbs when the trouble indicator activates.

3) Testing the unit weekly by using the test buttons, or as required by the manufacturer. If it doesn't work, replace any battery. If it still doesn't work, then replace the detector with another until it can be repaired. Testing with "spray-can" smoke is the best method.

4) Opening the cover and vacuuming the unit yearly.

5) Replacing older detectors as recommended by the manufacturer.

If you lost the detector instructions, there will be some basic information, including the manufacturer's address,on the detector itself.

Landlords must inform tenants in writing that they are responsible for informing their landlord in writing of any smoke detector problems. The landlord has five days to correct the problem.

It is recommended that tamper-resistant detectors, or preferably, building current detectors be installed if there is a problem with battery removal or disconnection.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE?

Yes, although functional smoke detectors will usually give you early warning, it's up to you to have an adequate escape plan. You should have at least two ways to escape a fire and an outside meeting location for everyone in the household. Then contact the fire department. Also, smoke detectors are not a replacement for fire prevention. Look at your property and your family's habits for sources of fires and eliminate or reduce them.

So tonight, check your home's smoke detectors and tomorrow check those in any rental properties for which you are responsible. And then sleep easier.