Catawissa, established in 1774, sits beautifully on the southeast side of the Susquehanna River in western Columbia County. This historic borough's location in the Susquehanna Valley creates specific geological conditions that contribute to elevated radon concentrations throughout the community. The area is designated as EPA Zone 1, indicating the highest predicted average indoor radon screening level in Pennsylvania.
The Susquehanna River Valley's geological history stretches back millions of years to the Paleozoic Era, when ancient seas deposited sedimentary rock layers rich in organic material and trace uranium. These sedimentary formations, including shale and sandstone sequences, contain naturally occurring uranium deposits that continuously decay into radon gas. As the river carved its valley through these layers, it exposed uranium-bearing bedrock that now sits beneath Catawissa homes.
Catawissa Creek, flowing along the borough's southern boundary, adds another geological dimension. The creek's ancient erosion patterns created fractured bedrock and permeable soil layers that act as pathways for radon migration from deep geological sources to home foundations. The valley's bowl-shaped topography traps denser radon gas at ground level rather than allowing natural dispersion, concentrating the gas where families live and work.
Many of Catawissa's historic homes feature stone foundations and basements constructed directly on bedrock or with minimal foundation barriers. These construction methods, while charming and historically significant, create direct contact between indoor spaces and radon-producing geological formations. Modern soil gas studies in the Susquehanna Valley consistently show radon concentrations 2-3 times higher than Pennsylvania's average, making professional testing and certified mitigation systems essential for protecting Catawissa families.
Professional with readings often between 2.8-6.9 pCi/L. The combination of uranium-rich sedimentary geology, river valley topography, and historic construction methods creates persistent radon risk throughout this Susquehanna River community.