Radioactive Water Leak at Minnesota Nuclear Plant

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Cleaning Up Radioactive Water: Minnesota Nuclear Plant Takes Action

A nuclear power plant in Minnesota is currently undergoing a clean-up process after officials discovered a leak of 400,000 gallons (1.5m liters) of radioactive water. The utility company that operates the plant, Xcel Energy, has reported that the spillage was “fully contained on-site and has not been detected beyond the facility.” State officials have also confirmed that there is no immediate public health risk associated with the leak.

The leak, which contains tritium, a common by-product of nuclear plant operations, was first detected in November. Although Xcel Energy notified the state and the NRC of the leak the following day, state officials recently made the information public. The company has since been pumping groundwater, storing and processing the contaminated water containing tritium levels below federal thresholds. The Minnesota Department of Health has also confirmed that the leak did not reach the Mississippi River.

The Monticello plant, where the leak occurred, is located about 35 miles (56km) upstream along the Mississippi River from Minneapolis, the state’s most populous city. Tritium spills are common in nuclear plants, but they are typically contained on-site and pose no risk to public health or safety, according to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

🚨 400,000 Gallons of Radioactive Water Leak from Minnesota Nuclear Plant

A broken pipe at Xcel Energy's Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant leaked about 400,000 gallons of water containing radioactive tritium, and the utility is working to clean up the contaminated plume, state… pic.twitter.com/ElohWuSzuh

— Mariana (@lonestarherd) March 17, 2023

When asked why Xcel Energy did not notify the public earlier, the company stated there was no immediate threat to health and safety. It was focused on investigating the situation, containing the affected water, and determining the next steps. Michael Rafferty, a Minnesota Pollution Control Agency spokesman, also explained that the company had yet to identify the source and location of the leak when tritium was first discovered in one monitoring well.

The clean-up of the radioactive water leak at the Minnesota nuclear power plant is ongoing, and officials are closely monitoring the situation. While the leak did not threaten public health and safety, it highlights the importance of transparency and prompt notification of incidents that could potentially impact the environment and communities.