Groundwater contamination
Since 2007, there have been seven leaks or spills that contaminated groundwater at nuclear power plants in Illinois.
Power plant
Highest tritium concentration,
times EPA limit
Quad Cities, 2007
At least 9,100 gal
375x
7.5M picocuries per liter
Dresden, 2009
272,000 gal
160x
3.2M
Dresden, 2011
Less than ½ gal
140x
2.79M
Dresden, 2014
465,600 gal
68x
1.36M
LaSalle, 2010
unknown
58x
1.18M
Braidwood, 2017
35,000 gal
10x
200,209
Byron, 2014
unknown
below limit
370
Notes:
Environmental Protection Agency safe drinking water limit for tritium is 20,000 picocuries per liter.
Sources:
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency