Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority Tritium Sampling Test Results
Florida Keys – April 29, 2016 – Recent news reports have prompted questions about the movement of water from Florida Power and Light’s (FPL’s) Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant cooling canals and the potential effects on the Florida Keys Water Supply.
The FKAA has been monitoring this issue and partnering with several agencies to ensure that appropriate actions are taken to cease unacceptable discharges from the cooling canals and to remediate any escape of contaminants from the canals. While the cooling canals are approximately 9.5 miles from the FKAA wellfield, and there is no immediate threat to the drinking water supply, the FKAA believes that any migration of contaminated water from the cooling canals is unacceptable.
A part of the FKAA’s wellfield protection efforts has been the continuance of our enhanced radiological monitoring program, including sampling for tritium. Tritium is a naturally occurring radioactive isotope of hydrogen. However, when observed at elevated levels above the naturally occurring background concentrations, it can also be used as a marker to determine the migration of water from the cooling canals.
On March 22, 2016 the FKAA sampled for tritium at the water treatment plant and six strategically located monitoring wells located between the FKAA’s water treatment plant and the cooling canal system (see Attachment A for locations). A total of 16 samples at varying water depths were collected. As reported by Jim Happell the Director of the University of Miami’s tritium Laboratory, “Everything is at background levels or below.”
“While these results were expected,” said FKAA’s Executive Director, Kirk Zuelch, “we will continue to monitor tritium quarterly to develop a baseline data set.” “Furthermore,” Zuelch stated, “while we are additionally encouraged by recent Florida Department of Environmental Protection actions, including the issuance of a Notice Of Violation to FPL, we will remain vigilant to ensure any influence of the cooling canals outside of FPL property ceases.”
For more information about the FKAA’s wellfield protection program please visit: http://www.fkaa.com or contact Julie Cheon at [email protected] or (305) 295-2150.
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