Nuclear power plant in the US has reportedly suffered a radioactive water leak

Authorities in the US state of Minnesota revealed this Thursday that a nuclear power plant near the city of Minneapolis had suffered a radioactive water leak of 400,000 gallons (more than 1.5 million liters).

«Minnesota Pollution Control Agency [MPCA, por sus siglas en inglés]”, in coordination with the Department of Health and the Department of Natural Resources, is overseeing Xcel Energy’s efforts to clean up a tritium-contaminated water spill detected at the company’s Monticello nuclear power plant,” reads the statement published by the MPCA. .

The agency said Xcel Energy reported the leak in late November 2022 “after finding unusual results during routine groundwater monitoring,” but “the leak was stopped and did not reach the Mississippi River or contaminate drinking water sources.” “At this time, there is no evidence to indicate a risk to any drinking water wells in the vicinity of the plant,” they added.

In this context, Kirk Koudelka, Deputy Commissioner of Territory and Strategic Initiatives at the MPCA, stated that “the top priority is to protect residents and the environment.” The agency “works closely with other state agencies to monitor Xcel Energy’s monitoring data and cleanup activities,” he added.

“We are working to ensure that this cleanup is completed as thoroughly as possible with minimal or no risk to drinking water supplies,” he concluded.

For his part, Dan Huff, of the Minnesota Department of Health, assured Fox 9 that the incident “did not threaten the health of any citizen” of the state. “If at any time someone’s health is in danger, we would notify people immediately,” he added. With RT

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