Radioactive water leaks from power plant storage

March 15, 2006

About 200 gallons of water containing radioactive tritium escaped from a lined berm at Braidwood Generating Station in far southwestern Will County, Exelon Nuclear officials disclosed Tuesday.

The level of tritium in the escaped water was about nine times higher than federal ground- and drinking-water limits, but less than one-fifth of the surface-water limit. None of the water, which was quickly returned to the bermed area, left the site, plant spokesman Neal Miller said.

Heavy winds apparently caused the berm's wall to collapse, allowing what was thought to be rainwater outside the berm. As a precaution, the water was tested, revealing the tritium, Miller said.

The berm surrounds tanks where water with tritium is being held while the company considers new ways to dispose of tritium, a byproduct of nuclear generation. Exelon officials believe one of the tanks has "a small leak," Miller said.

Braidwood plant officials started storing water with tritium in November, when they shut down an underground pipe that carries tritium to the Kankakee River, where it is legally dumped. It shut down the line after discovering tritium in groundwater.

The company later disclosed that tritium leaked four times from the underground line.