PNNL

Abstract

Drinking water is supplied to most U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) facilities on the Hanford Site by DOE-owned, contractor-operated pumping and distribution systems. Water is primarily obtained from the Columbia River, but some facilities use water obtained from onsite groundwater wells. Because of the large amount of stored radioactive and chemical waste at Hanford, and the approximately 1,400 waste disposal locations, there is some concern that remaining waste materials are contaminating onsite drinking water supplies. This paper describes the drinking water systems and treatment requirements on the Hanford Site and summarizes radiological and non-radiological water quality data obtained from water samples collected from drinking water systems in use in 2001 and 2002. Monitoring data show that Hanford-produced radionuclides are measurable in some drinking water samples. The only non-radiological contaminants detected were either byproducts of the chlorination process or from offsite agricultural activities. Values of all contaminants were, in all cases, below state and federal annual average drinking water limits. This information will provide assurance to current employees and future site developers that drinking water on the Hanford Site is safe for public consumption.