Standardized methods for measuring radionuclides in drinking water

In 2002 the Italian Standardisation Organisation (UNI) - Nuclear Energy Commission (UNICEN) - appointed a working group with the main task of writing a set of standards on drinking water measurements. To date two standards have been designed, namely, for total alpha- and beta-activity, and super(222)Rn. Further procedures are under development for measuring super(226)Ra and U isotopes, and gamma-emitting radionuclides in water. The paper gives an overview of these standards, both developed and under study, with special attention to the validation of the methods.