Tritium in ground water at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, Idaho

Book · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:6808316

Mann, L J; Cecil, L D ^[1]

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1. Geological Survey, Idaho Falls, ID (United States)

Approximately 30,900 curies of tritium were contained in wastewater generated from 1952 to 1988 by ICPP (Idaho Chemical Processing Plant) and the TRA (test Reactor Area) at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory. The wastewater disposed at the ICPP was discharged directly to the Sanke River Plain aquifer through a disposal well until February 9, 1984, when routine use of the well discontinued and the use of an unlined infiltration pond was begun. A second pond was put into use on October 17, 1985. Wastewater disposed at the TRA has been discharged to one to three infiltration ponds since 1952. The average annual concentration of tritium in water from 26 selected wells at the INEL decreased from 250 pCi/mL in 1961 to 18 pCi/mL in 1988, a decrease of about 93%. The maximum tritium concentration was 844+ or [minus]5 pCi/mL in 1961 and was 61.6+ or [minus]1.1 pCi/mL in 1988. Four factors are responsible for this decrease in tritium concentration: (1) a decrease in the amount of tritium disposed annually to ponds and wells from 1961 to 1988; (2) the change from the use of a disposal sell to infiltration ponds; (3) radioactive decay; and (4) dilution from recharge.

• DOE Contract Number: AI07-81ID12306
• OSTI ID: 6808316
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
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Aquatic-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
IDAHO NATIONAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY
MASS TRANSFER
MONITORING
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
RADIATION MONITORING
RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
WATER
WATER POLLUTION