1. City Council
September 17, 2013

2. RADIATION
HEALTH AND SAFETY

3. Agenda
1. Radioactivity is everywhere
2. Health and Safety in Context
3. Pipeline/Treatment Plant

4. Radioactivity Is Present Everywhere
Source:
Dose
(mrem/yr)
Soil 28
Outer Space 27
Atmosphere 1
Radon 200
Body 39
Total:
(U.S. Average)
~300
Adapted from Bushong, 1994

5. Radioactivity Is In Many
Common Things
0.92 pCi/L 0.6 pCi/L 0.08 pCi/L
Average
< 2.5 pCi/L 5 pCi/L
<Treatment35 pCi/L
1.2 pCi/L

6. Radioactivity Is In Many
Common Things
108,000 pCi/g 472 pCi/g 14 pCi/g
0.72 pCi/g 0.038 pCi/g
3.5 pCi/g
0.01 pCi/g1.37 pCi/g
Lantern Mantle Zircon Tile Dry wall
Granite Countertop Soil Beans
Banana
Bones

7. Radiation Source and
Effect of Shielding
• Radiation Source
• Shielding A: ½” Steel Plate
• Shielding B: CMU Block

8. Radiation Dose Is Minimal
1 Pelvic CT or
Stress Test
Yearly Dose
From Nature
Yearly Dose to
Plant Staff
1,000
300
30
Dose
(mrem)
4 Mammograms
70

9. Your Groundwater Treatment Plant is
Designed for Safety
• Monitors for any
radiation exposure
 ½” Lined-Steel
Pressure Vessels
 Sloped and Epoxy-
Coated Floor
 Containment Sump
 Limited Access to
Building
 Small amounts of
naturally occurring
radon vented from
building
 Masonry provides
shielding

10. This Plant Is Safe
• Treatment Includes:
• Water
• Air
• Anthracite
• Zeolite
• Radium
 No explosives
 No flammables

11. Raw Hickory Pipeline Breaks Pose
No Significant Environmental Impact
Pipe Break
Stream
Livestock
Soil
Time to Regulatory Limit
2.3 Years @ 9 MGD
240 Days @ 9 MGD
No Environmental
Impact

12. No Long-Term Storage or Liability for Spent Media
GWTP
Licensed
Disposal
Facility

13. Groundwater Treatment Plant is Safe

14. City Council
September 17, 2013