FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 12, 2008
Lab testing shows power plant has no negative effect on local surface water or groundwater
COLUMBIA – Test results of water samples outside the H. B. Robinson nuclear plant in Darlington County showed the plant has had no adverse effects to the quality of the groundwater or surface water in the area, the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control reported today.
“Tests show no radioactive materials in the groundwater coming from the plant,” said Chris Staton, director of DHEC’s Division of Waste Assessment and Emergency Response. “The results did show Tritium in small amounts in one of the surface water samples. The levels that were found were well below any federal requirements for Tritium in surface water.”
Staton said sampling of off-site public and private well water is part of DHEC’s initiative to mirror a new nuclear industry effort to determine groundwater quality on-site at nuclear power plants throughout the country. DHEC staff sampled public and private wells surrounding all four of South Carolina’s commercial nuclear power plants. Laboratory analysis of samples from the three remaining plants is underway.
At the H. B. Robinson plant, operated by Progress Energy, DHEC staff tested 15 locations surrounding the facility, in Dec. 2007. Eleven of the samples were from private wells, two were surface water samples and one was from a public well located immediately adjacent to the facility. The final sample was collected from a non-drinking water well located on the plant property. The samples were tested for Tritium, Gross Alpha and Gross Beta and general bacterial water quality.
“The test samples were analyzed at DHEC’s laboratory in Columbia,” Staton said. “While tests showed the H. B. Robinson Nuclear Plant has had no adverse affect on the local groundwater; the results did show levels of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM) in several private wells.”
Staton said residents whose wells showed levels of naturally occurring radioactive materials or higher levels of bacteria were given information on how to reduce the intake of those materials.
Progress Energy officials are continuing their effort to characterize the groundwater on the H. B. Robinson property. DHEC staff will monitor and review those test results.
-###-
For more information:
Mary Nguyen Bright – (803) 896-4099 office or (803) 698-2967 pager
E-mail – brightmn@dhec.sc.gov
BNR1853
Pine Ridge Community Well Water Testing Results
Date |
Team # – Sample # |
Tritium* |
Gross Alpha* |
Gross Beta* |
Notes |
12/11/2007 |
HBR-01-01 |
< LLD |
< LLD |
< LLD |
Surface Water |
12/11/2007 |
HBR-01-02 |
< LLD |
< LLD |
< LLD |
Private Well |
12/11/2007 |
HBR-01-03 |
< LLD |
< LLD |
< LLD |
Private Well |
12/11/2007 |
HBR-01-04 |
< LLD |
2.28 pCi/L |
< LLD |
Private Well |
12/11/2007 |
HBR-03-05 |
< LLD |
< LLD |
< LLD |
Private Well |
12/11/2007 |
HBR-03-05 – Duplicate |
< LLD |
< LLD |
< LLD |
Private Well – Duplicate |
12/11/2007 |
HBR-01-06 |
< LLD |
5.98 pCi/L |
< LLD |
Private Well |
12/11/2007 |
HBR-03-07 |
< LLD |
< LLD |
< LLD |
Private Well |
12/11/2007 |
HBR-03-08 |
< LLD |
54.00 pCi/L |
4.19 pCi/L |
Private Well |
02/13/2008 |
HBR-04-08 |
N/A |
5.60 pCi/L |
< LLD |
Private Well Re-sampled |
12/11/2007 |
HBR-03-09 |
< LLD |
4.01 pCi/L |
7.10 pCi/L |
Private Well |
12/11/2007 |
HBR-02-10 |
< LLD |
73.10 pCi/L |
4.10 pCi/L |
Private Well |
02/13/2008 |
HBR-04-10 |
N/A |
19.10 pCi/L |
< LLD |
Private Well Re-sampled |
12/11/2007 |
HBR-02-11 |
< LLD |
3.44 pCi/L |
< LLD |
Private Well |
12/11/2007 |
HBR-02-12 |
< LLD |
3.73 pCi/L |
6.94 pCi/L |
Public Water Well |
12/11/2007 |
HBR-02-12 – Duplicate |
< LLD |
12.7 pCi/L |
8.94 pCi/L |
Public Water Well – Duplicate |
12/11/2007 |
HBR-02-13 |
782 pCi/L |
< LLD |
< LLD |
Surface Water |
12/11/2007 |
HBR-02-14 |
< LLD |
< LLD |
< LLD |
Private Well |
12/11/2007 |
HBR-02-15 |
< LLD |
4.45 pCi/L |
< LLD |
HBR Non-Drinking Water Well |
* = Measured in pCi/L or picocuries per liter of water.
<LLD = Lower Level of Detection (means any radioactive material present was lower than what is scientifically measurable).
EPA Safe Drinking Water Limits
Tritium Maximum Contaminant Level = 20,000 picocuries per liter of water **
Gross Alpha Maximum Contaminant Level = 15 picocuries per liter of water **
Gross Beta Maximum Contaminant Level = 50 picocuries per liter of water **
** Limits are based upon consumption of two liters of water per day, 365 days per year over a 70-year lifespan.