this paper presents information on the gross alpha and gross beta activity concentrations of two hundred twenty-six groundwater samples collected by gas flow proportional counters in southern Vietnam. The gross alpha results in the water samples ranged from 0.024 to 0.748 Bq L −1 with a mean of 0.183 ± 0.034 Bq L −1 , and the gross beta results in the water samples ranged from 0.027-0.632 Bq L −1 with a mean of 0.152 ± 0.015 Bq L −1 . The values obtained in this work were compared with those previously published for various regions or countries. Next, untreated and treated groundwater samples were analyzed to assess their influences on the treatment process. The results showed that there were differences in the minimum detection concentrations and the mean activity values between the untreated and treated groundwater samples (The p-value of the mean comparison tests is significant with p < 0.05). In both sample groups, there was a strong positive correlation of the gross alpha versus the gross beta results (r > 0.6). This means that among the radionuclides, the major sources of beta radiation are uranium and thorium decay series radionuclides. Finally, the annual effective dose for adults (>17 years) was calculated based on the assumption that major radionuclides have the highest effective dose conversion factors. In general, the results for Pb-210, Ra-226, and Ra-228 were observed to be lower than the recommended reference values established by the World Health organization and the International Atomic Energy Agency, except for the value of Po-210.Water is the most important substance in our lives, and the management of water resources is a national and international problem. Water is an essential and basic human right and protecting the quality of water is also a component of effective health policy 1-4 . Water is considered to be a factor that can increase the exposure of humans to natural radiation 5 . The radioactivity present in groundwater may be mainly from the following radionuclides: nuclides in the U-238 and Th-232 decay series, K-40, cosmic rays, authorized discharges from nuclear facilities and other licensed facilities, fallout from nuclear weapon tests, and accidental releases of radionuclides 4 . The primary alpha-emitting radionuclides in the natural decay series are U-238 and Th-232 and its progenies In general, gross beta activity concentrations 6-9 are primarily due to There are several standards or regulations limiting concentrations of radionuclides in the water samples, which requires the ability to identify and quantify radionuclides utilizing different methods, such as alpha spectroscopy 10-13 , gamma spectroscopy 13-16 , and liquid scintillation counting 17,18 . However, the process of identifying separation procedures for radionuclide concentrations in water samples is time consuming and expensive. Therefore, the simplest practical approach is to use a screening method based on the measurement of gross alpha and gross beta activity concentrations without regard to the identity of spec...

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