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City News
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Mayor Sets the Record Straight on Tritium in the Kankakee River
In these past few weeks you have probably heard the word tritium for the first time. Tritium is a radioactive form of hydrogen and is found naturally in the environment but is also one of the byproducts of nuclear energy production. If you would like to find additional information on tritium you can log on to www.epa/radiation/radionuclides/tritium.htm. The City has been working in tangent with Exelon and the State of Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety since 1993 to make sure the tritium levels remain safe in the Kankakee River.
Recently, higher levels of tritium have been found around the Braidwood Nuclear Plant than occurs naturally. Exelon has located the source of the leaks and are moving forward in trying to rectify it.
A Chicago Tribune article on Thursday, February 23, reported on tritium being found in the Kankakee River. This fact has been known to us for quite some time. The City has been monitoring tritium since 1994. The level of tritium in the City water has been negligible, often times it has been undetectable. The City independently tests for tritium once a week. Exelon runs weekly tests as well. The City monitors for hundreds of substances to make sure that our water supply is safe; tritium is just one of them. The City annually mails out a "Consumer Confidence Report" which gives an overall summary of Wilmington's water quality.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency considers tritium one of the least dangerous radioactive substances because it leaves the body so quickly. An interesting statistic quoted in the Chicago Tribune article stated that a person who each day for a year drank two liters of water containing tritium at the federal limit would be exposed to less radiation then if you skied for one day in Colorado. I think this really puts things in perspective. Wilmington's drinking water doesn't even come close to federal levels.
The City of Wilmington is committed to delivering the best quality of water. I drink it and will continue to do so. If you have any questions about the levels of tritium in the water please contact Water and Sewer Superintendent Ken Jeffries. He will be happy to alleviate any concerns you may have.
Mayor Roy Strong
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