By Evelyn Guzman -March 16,2011:
Ontario Power Generation has notified Canada's federal nuclear regulator about the release of 73,000 litres of demineralized water entered into Lake Ontario from the Pickering A nuclear generating station.
Pickering A is the first four reactors at the nuclear plant just east of Toronto.
It went into service in 1971 and continued to operate safely until 1997, when it was placed in voluntary lay-up as part of what was then Ontario Hydro's nuclear improvement program. The leak was reported to have occured at 11: 30 p.m. ET on Monday March 14,2011 and was caused by a pump seal failure.
The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission stated“The radiological risk to the environment and people's health is negligible,” . The nuclear regulator and Environment Canada are monitoring the situation. The leak on was reported by Andrew Nichols of CBC News Wednesday afternoon and said he spoke to an Ontario Power Generation spokesperson who told him the risk is minimal but that such leaks are not supposed to occur.
"Gordon Edwards and Andrew Nichols where at the upmost concern since both must report the facts to the public.Edwards said In his words, 'What the hell is considered negligible?'" “The radiological risk to the environment and people's health is negligible.Nichols had reported the leak could be of some concern due to Lake Ontario being the main source of drinking water for millions of people who live along the lake.This all occurs on the back heels of Japan's nuclear crisis emerging in the mist of multiple possible meltdowns.
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