ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the occurrence, possible sources, fate, and implications of these elevated radioactivity levels. Levels of gross alpha particle radioactivity nearly three times the maximum contamination levels have been detected for several years in well waters and related surface waters in Los Angeles and Orange Counties, California. Laboratory analyses have been performed on water samples taken from different wells and related surface waters in these areas since 1980, in compliance with the laws of the State of California and the Federal Government. The Raymond Basin data was included in: Water Quality Monitoring in Raymond Basin, by the California Department of Water Resources, 1980 through 1985. All but one of the wells that contained water with elevated levels of gross alpha also are located close to the mountain range front. The stream flow of the river consists of natural runoff as well as waters imported from Northern California and the Colorado River.
