Monticello Nuclear Power Plant spills 400,000 gallons of radioactive Tritium water

Minnesota regulators said Thursday they’re monitoring the cleanup of a leak of 400,000 gallons of radioactive water from Xcel Energy’s Monticello nuclear power plant, and the company said there’s no danger to the public. Xcel reported the leak of water containing tritium to state and federal authorities in late November, the spill had not been made public before Thursday. State officials said they waited to get more information before going public with it.
"We knew there was a presence of tritium in one monitoring well, however Xcel had not yet identified the source of the leak and its location," Minnesota Pollution Control Agency spokesman Michael Rafferty said.
Tritium is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen that occurs naturally in the environment and is a common by-product of nuclear plant operations. It emits a weak form of beta radiation that does not travel very far and cannot penetrate human skin, according to the NRC. A person who drank water from a spill would get only a low dose, the NRC says.


phys.org...
www.usatoday.com...
www.cbsnews.com...
apnews.com...

I'm sure its just a coincidence.

the end is near

Xcel reported the leak of water containing tritium to state and federal authorities in late November, the spill had not been made public before Thursday. State officials said they waited to get more information before going public with it.

This statement has got to make you wonder what other occurrences in the nuclear energy world and really all other aspects of society, do TPTB deem necessary to have more information before going public?

A person who drank water from a spill would get only a low dose, the NRC says.

Yea a low dose since NOVEMBER, how about a no-dose level of tritium in our water, or atleast tell people your water may have a dose?

I love the tritium in my p-i-m-p Isobrite Afterburner watch.
I use it like a flashlight sometimes.
It uses t100 flat tritium vials.
The tritium glows for 50 years!!

Can it be suspended in water?
I thought it was just a inert gas?
..It is in the glass watch vials anyway

Added..
Yeah nevermind, totally different animal...

Tritiated water is a radioactive form of water in which the usual protium atoms are replaced with tritium. In its pure form it may be called tritium oxide (T2O or H2O) or super-heavy water. Pure T2O is corrosive due to self-radiolysis. Diluted, tritiated water is mainly H2O plus some HTO (HOH). It is also used as a tracer for water transport studies in life-science research. Furthermore, since it naturally occurs in minute quantities, it can be used to determine the age of various water-based liquids, such as vintage wines.

The name super-heavy water helps distinguish the tritiated material from heavy water, which contains deuterium instead.

I guess concentration levels are the big question

a reply to: Violater1

I want to see them drink that low grade dose!

a reply to: JAGStorm

I want to see them drink that low grade dose!

K.Keep u posted!

(Minnesota is north of me and the rivers flow to the south)

originally posted by: putnam6
…..

Yea a low dose since NOVEMBER, how about a no-dose level of tritium in our water, or atleast tell people your water may have a dose?

Not really possible. Tritium occurs naturally in the environment. There’s Tritium in practically all water.

originally posted by: 1947boomer

originally posted by: putnam6
…..

Yea a low dose since NOVEMBER, how about a no-dose level of tritium in our water, or atleast tell people your water may have a dose?

Not really possible. Tritium occurs naturally in the environment. There’s Tritium in practically all water.

So does uranium and plutonium. But you won't catch me drinking it!
This was NOT a natural event, as you know, it was released from a NPP.

a reply to: Violater1

One more step til avatar landscaping here on earth, we just need some multi-colored glowing fungi now. Then we won't have a need for 'light' anymore at night! Isn't that great! We already have glowing cats and beagles. Oh and we always need more fireflies, then we can do away with electricity forever!

Always heard after clown world we would get a radioactive world of glowing water, tree's, one-eyed glowing fish. Yellow, Green and Blue deer and giant multi-colored shrooms that would leave you thinking you be trippin on L.S.D. Cause that's better for the environment!

Dreams do come true if you just wait! I'm still waiting for the blue and green glowing grasses.

p.s While i'm being sarcastic, i'm fairly certain congress actually believes the above can be done to earth all while sustaining life. Just like how some 'congress' believe humans and dinosaurs lived and worked together like the Flintstones..

Toe Jam and Earl anyone? That be our future..

So, more professionals telling people there is no danger to the public.


Famous last words.

How is that soil in OHIO again?

originally posted by: chiefsmom
So, more professionals telling people there is no danger to the public.


Famous last words.

How is that soil in OHIO again?

Absolutely right.
More famous words; I'm from the government and I'm here to help you.

originally posted by: 1947boomer

originally posted by: putnam6
…..

Yea a low dose since NOVEMBER, how about a no-dose level of tritium in our water, or atleast tell people your water may have a dose?

Not really possible. Tritium occurs naturally in the environment. There’s Tritium in practically all water.

Maybe you should do a thread on it?

sure its not ideal to spill radioactive stuff but tritium only last a week or two in the human body and doesn't do much while there, i wouldn't worry too much.

Great for well water and soda stream and bottled water ☠️

So in MN it's impossible to build a pipeline.

BUT... no problem operating a nuclear plant on the headwaters of the Mississippi??

a reply to: Violater1

breaking, due to the leak of 400,000 gallons of radioactive water from Xcel Energy’s Monticello nuclear power plant, the state legislatured pass and the governor signed the bill to change the states anthem.

the new anthem will now be Radioactive,

Ooh,ooh,ooh,ooh
Well, I'm not uptight
Not unattractive
Turn me on tonight
'Cause I'm radioactive Radioactive
The Frim

a reply to: Violater1 ---- the other thing that US regulators are not saying is the extraordinary challenge of removing tritium from contaminated water: Tritium is difficult to remove from the water it contaminates because tritium *is* the water: Regular water (H2O) has 2 hydrogen atoms + 1 oxygen atom; tritiated water has 2 tritium atoms + 1 oxygen atom ... oops.

originally posted by: 1947boomer

originally posted by: putnam6
…..

Yea a low dose since NOVEMBER, how about a no-dose level of tritium in our water, or atleast tell people your water may have a dose?

Not really possible. Tritium occurs naturally in the environment. There’s Tritium in practically all water.

Okay then how about no extra added tritium to our water

Then why hide it since November? 1947Boomer

They hid it because they didn't know and had to test it, unless are you suggesting it took them 3 months to test? Sounds like they waited 3 months till the levels went down to low dose or background levels, and then said it's okay now

I guess I'm not as trusting as you, last time I listened to my government and believed them, they lock down a 40-year-old family business leaving it on the brink of going OOB, and insisted you get vaxxed or you would probably die.

And BTW FWIW I don't doubt your knowledge hell I post to learn and I find stuff that's interesting I post, so please accept these questions in the vein they are intended.

I guess from our recent threads you have a good knowledge of all things nuclear, so if it is naturally occurring and already in the water why does the NRC regulate how much it can be released at once? One would assume it's controlled because if you do dump 400,000 gallons at once it may be a little bit dangerous

www.nrc.gov...

Groundwater Contamination (Tritium) at Nuclear Plants
Tritium is a mildly radioactive type of hydrogen that occurs both naturally and during the operation of nuclear power plants. Water containing tritium and other radioactive substances is normally releasedfrom nuclear plants under controlled, monitored conditions the NRC mandates to protect public health and safety. The NRC recently identified several instances of unintended tritium releases, and all available information shows no threat to the public. Nonetheless, the NRC is reviewing these incidents to ensure nuclear plant operators have taken appropriate action and to determine what, if any, changes are needed to the agency's rules and regulations. The following information provides further basic information on tritium and other isotopes released from nuclear power plants, and outlines the status of the unintended tritium leaks and the NRC's actions.

Here's the NRC report on the tritium release from Monticello in 2019, though this one is a gaseous release. FWIW Monticello has had gaseous releases of tritium every year from 2015-2019. What makes this 400,000-gallon release newsworthy compared to the other ones?

oriseapps.orau.gov...



Here's the last time I can find a tritium release mentioned in the news was in 2009

www.mprnews.org...

Xcel finds elevated tritium levels at Monticello Nuclear Plant
Stephanie HemphillMonticello, Minn.September 11, 2009 3:02 PM
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Monticello nuclear power plant
The Monticello nuclear power plant, which is owned by Xcel Energy.Photo courtesy of the Virtual Nuclear Tourist
Xcel Energy has found higher-than-natural levels of radioactive tritium in a monitoring well at its Monticello Nuclear Plant.

One sampling found a level of 21,300 picocuries per liter of tritium, which is slightly above the federal Environmental Protection Agency drinking water standard for tritium of 20,000 picocuries per liter.

Tritium is a radioactive form of hydrogen that occurs naturally and as a byproduct of electricity production at nuclear power plants.

Xcel recently drilled a new well near the reactor because workers detected a leak inside the building. Plant engineers believe the tritium came from a leaking valve that was repaired in May.

Workers are drawing water from near the reactor building into the well and putting it in containers. Xcel says the water will be reprocessed through normal plant systems, which do not come in contact with the environment.

Xcel says if someone consumed drinking water containing 21,300 picocuries of tritium for a year, he or she would receive an annual radiation dose of 0.97 millirem. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, dental and chest X-rays result in 25 millirems of radiation.

Xcel is applying to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to expand production and waste storage at Monticello. The NRC recently decided a full Environmental Impact Statement is not needed, because the expansion would produce no significant environmental effects.

originally posted by: BernnieJGato
a reply to: Violater1

breaking, due to the leak of 400,000 gallons of radioactive water from Xcel Energy’s Monticello nuclear power plant, the state legislatured pass and the governor signed the bill to change the states anthem.

the new anthem will now be Radioactive,

Ooh,ooh,ooh,ooh
Well, I'm not uptight
Not unattractive
Turn me on tonight
'Cause I'm radioactive Radioactive
The Frim

OH damn I haven't heard that in decades I wore that tape out WBW, wasn't that Paul Rodgers Jimmy Page