Radioactive tritium is still being found in monitoring wells at the Oyster Creek nuclear power plant in Lacey, more than three years after two spills were detected, according to a state report.
Plant owner Exelon began pumping tritium-contaminated groundwater in 2010, and tritium levels in the Cape May and Cohansey aquifers under the plant dropped significantly, according to the N.J. Department of Environmental Protection report.
Through December, more than 63 million gallons of groundwater have been pumped and discharged into Oyster Creek's intake canal, according to the report. The water is sent through the plant, diluted and released into the discharge canal that flows into Barnegat Bay.
BTW, 63 million gallons would fill 3,150 swimming pools (each holding 20,000 gallons).
The government limit for tritium in groundwater, drinking water and surface water is 20,000 picocuries per liter. A picocurie is a measure of radioactivity.
In 2006, California set a public health goal of 400 picocuries of tritium in drinking water.
Earlier this month, there was no estimate on when the cleanup of Oyster Creek's entire tritium plume will be finished, according to the report. But DEP test results indicate that pumping has had some effect.
Here are peak and latest tritium readings in wells in an updated report on the DEP's website (MW stands for monitoring well; visit this website for a map showing well locations):
- MW-15K-1A: Highest reading, 2.8 million picocuries per liter; latest reading, less than 210.
- MW-50: Highest, 2.8 million; latest, 18,000.
- MW-51: Highest, 2.2 million; latest, 6,350 (well reported dry since October 2011).
- MW-55: Highest, 1.47 million; latest, 1,730.
- MW-56I: Highest, 1.19 million; latest, 5,350.
- MW-57I: Highest, 761,976; latest, 6,690.
- MW-67: Highest, 1.17 million; latest, 78,100.
The Oyster Creek nuclear power plant in Lacey, N.J. (file photo)
A contaminated well at Oyster Creek (file photo by Peter Ackerman)
