Radioactive water (tritium) found under Ga. nuke plant

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.chron.com/news/article/Radioactive-water-found-under-Ga-nuke-plant-2197025.php

Radioactive water found under Ga. nuke plant

RAY HENRY, Associated Press
Published 04:10 p.m., Friday, September 30, 2011

ATLANTA (AP) — Radioactive water has been found underneath a nuclear power plant in southeast Georgia, but officials said Friday that the leak does not pose an immediate threat to public health and is unlikely to contaminate any drinking water.

The Atlanta-based Southern Co. learned of the leak beneath Plant Hatch in Baxley on Wednesday when it identified radioactive tritium in two test wells about 25 feet below the ground, said Dennis Madison, a utility vice president who oversees the plant. Workers guided by ground-penetrating radar were planning to dig Friday to identify the source of the leak.

Exposure to tritium increases the risk of developing cancer. But it emits low-level radiation and leaves the body fast, making it one of the least-dangerous radioactive elements. Madison and state environmental officials say it is unlikely plant workers or residents will be exposed to the radiation because it is confined to an area within the facility and was not headed toward any drinking water supplies.

…

He said the utility hoped to identify the source of the leak no later than Sunday afternoon and intended to have it repaired early next week. While the size of the leak was unknown, it was enough to raise the water table in the wells about five feet. Both reactors at the site were functioning normally and showed no other signs of water loss.

…

[Mnemosyne]

1. Piper is waiting to be paid... n/t

[rhett o rick]

2. I feel so reassured when they say: "is unlikely to contaminate any drinking water."

Unlikely? Is that 60-40, 90-10, how "unlikely"?

[Possumpoint]

3. Wait A Minute

This leak raised the water table 5 feet? That's probably one "H" of a lot of water. We're not given info on how big the resivor is but dude 5 feet!

[ixion]

4. that's a whole lotta radioactive water

sounds contaminated to me...

[madokie]

5. There is those who will come along shortly and try to convince you it is all ok

They don't go after the message either they go for the messenger every time.

[FBaggins]

6. Lol. Did you read your post?

You went after the messenger before the messenger even showed up.

Pretty ironic, wouldn't you say?

There's no need to say that it's "all ok" because nothing has been reported yet that would make a rational person think that it wasn't ok. The amount of water isn't relevant... the question is how much tritium was in it. And the chances are almost certain that the answer is "not very much".

[OKIsItJustMe]

7. Ironically enough

The informal name for going after the messenger before the messenger even showed up is… wait for it… “http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poisoning_the_well">poisoning the well.”

[wtmusic]

8. Breaking: Radioactivity Found Everywhere

Holy shit! No place to run to, nowhere to hide!!!

[OKIsItJustMe]

9. I don’t see tritium itself as a tremendous risk

On the other hand, I do see tritium leaks as a symptom of a problem.

I'm reminded of when my Dad took me looking for my first used car. He had some interesting advice. For example:

• Look at the spark plug wires. (Are they new? Are they clean? Do they match?)
• Pull the dipstick. What is the oil level? What does the oil look like? What does it smell like? (If it’s got an automatic transmission, check that dipstick as well.)
• Look where the car is parked. Are there any signs of leaks?

Before you even start the engine, simple checks like these can give you an idea of how well a car has been maintained mechanically.


OK, so, somehow (we don’t know how) a whole bunch of water (we don’t know how much) leaked from a nuclear reactor.

http://www.ajc.com/news/radioactive-water-found-beneath-1192383.html

…

The Atlanta-based Southern Co. learned of the leak beneath Plant Hatch in Baxley on Wednesday when it identified radioactive tritium in two test wells about 25 feet below the ground, said Dennis Madison, a utility vice president who oversees the plant.

…

He said the utility hoped to identify the source of the leak no later than Sunday afternoon and intended to have it repaired early next week. While the size of the leak was unknown, it was enough to raise the water table in the wells about five feet. Both reactors at the site were functioning normally and showed no other signs of water loss.

…

The plant, which started producing power more than 30 years ago, has previously suffered from tritium leaks. Southern Co. hired a consultant in the late 1970s and early 1980s to investigate earlier leaks, according to a report from the utility.

In 2006, the company replaced piping and made other repairs to fix or prevent tritium leaks near where the problem was discovered this week.

…

“more than 30 years ago” -vs- “late 1970s”

It sounds like this baby has been leaking tritium pretty much since “day one.” Then they “fixed it” 5 years ago, and now it’s leaking again (or is that “still?”) But, they’ll have it fixed (for sure this time) “early next week…”

I'm impressed! They’ve had a chronic problem for 30+ years, which they will fix in a few days.

Would you buy a used reactor from these people??

[wtmusic]

10. First of all, it's not a "chronic problem".

My sewer line leaks, it probably has from "day one". I've made several plumbing "fixes" over the years, and damned if my old plumbing doesn't start leaking again ( or is that "still?"). Of course, I'm not naive enough to think that I can ever having plumbing fixed "for sure this time". Are you?

Like the tritium leak, my leaky sewer line is not a danger to the public. Fortunately, disclosure of this fact would not create a news story which would attract the attention (and dollars) of a fringe and somewhat paranoid element. It won't result in anything as serious as misguided attempts to close a nuclear plant, or worse in succeeding - and forcing the public to really on truly-dangerous burning of coal, which would kill thousands of people.

Anyone with a skill at connecting dots would see why it's not only financially advantageous to hide these leaks, but it's becoming morally imperative as well.

One day I will take the plunge and invest in copper plumbing. Although it won't stop leaks, it will make them few and far between. What happens when utilities attempt to invest in replacing aging reactors? Do you have any idea?