Copper in the intake and discharge zones of the Surry and Salem Nuclear Power Stations

Technical Report · Tue Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:6300581

Harrison, F L; Bishop, D J; Rice, Jr, D W; Knezovich, J P

Copper concentrations were measured in the soluble and particulate fractions of water samples and bedload sediments collected in intake and discharge areas of the Surry and Salem Nuclear Power Stations during normal operations. Additional samples of water and suspended particles were collected during startup of Unit 2 at the Salem Power Station. In water samples collected from Surry, total copper ranged from 6.5 to 24.7 and labile copper from 0.5 to 2.9 ..mu..g/L; in those from Salem, total copper ranged from 6.7 to 10.6 and labile from 0.9 to 3.8 ..mu..g/L. At both sites the highest total copper concentration was measured in January 1979 during a period of high runoff. In general, differences between influent and effluent waters were small; the maximum was 4.2 ..mu..g Cu/L. Copper concentration in the water during startup of Unit 2 of Salem was high initially (>2500 ..mu..g Cu/L) but was almost entirely in the particulate fraction; labile copper was only 0.6 ..mu..g/L. The apparent complexing capacity (ACC) of the waters from Surry ranged from 6 to 40 and those from Salem from 5 to 60 ..mu..g Cu/L. Ranges in dissolved organic carbon were smaller, 2.9 to 5.1 and 2.2 to 5.0 mg C/L for Surry and Salem, respectively, and showed no relationship with ACC. Ultrafiltration of discharge waters indicated that, in most samples, the largest fraction of copper in the untreated water was in the >10,000 <100,000 molecular weight fraction; in waters treated to destroy dissolved organic carbon, it was generally in the >100,000 molecular weight fraction.Copper concentrations in intact bedload sediments from the intake area of Surry ranged from 2.3 to 26 and of Salem from 36 to 74 ..mu..g/g dry weight; those in the discharge area of Surry ranged from 13 to 30 and of Salem from 3 to 67. We noted considerable spatial heterogeneity both at the intake and discharge areas, and higher copper concentrations in the <62-..mu..m fraction than in intact sediments.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 6300581
• Report Number(s): NUREG/CR-2965; UCRL-53325; ON: DE83011270
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
COOLING SYSTEMS
COPPER
DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SYSTEMS
ENRICHED URANIUM REACTORS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
FUNCTIONS
METALS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
ORGANIC MATTER
PARTICLES
POWER PLANTS
POWER REACTORS
PWR TYPE REACTORS
REACTORS
SALEM-1 REACTOR
SALEM-2 REACTOR
SEDIMENTS
SURFACE WATERS
SURRY-1 REACTOR
SURRY-2 REACTOR
SURRY-3 REACTOR
SURRY-4 REACTOR
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
THERMAL REACTORS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
WATER COOLED REACTORS
WATER MODERATED REACTORS