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Water Monitoring
There have been 828 underground nuclear tests conducted at the NTS.
About one third of these tests were detonated near or below the water
table. This legacy of nuclear testing has resulted in the contamination
of groundwater in some areas (see map of
underground nuclear tests and areas of potential groundwater
contamination
[
PDF, 144KB]).
Offsite radiological monitoring
of water supplies is performed by NSTec, the M&O
contractor for the NTS, to detect radiation contamination from past
underground nuclear testing on the NTS. Water samples are collected from
offsite groundwater wells, municipal water supply systems, and natural
springs. Water monitoring results are used each year to calculate what
the radiological dose to the public
is from drinking water contaminated by past or present NTS activities.
The offsite monitoring performed by BN is confirmed by an
organization independent of the M&O contractor for the NTS. It is
performed under the Community Environmental Monitoring Program (CEMP)
and is coordinated by the Desert Research Institute (DRI) of the
University and Community College System of Nevada. Its purpose is to
monitor tritium in water supplies which may be a result of underground
nuclear testing.
Onsite radiological monitoring
is performed by BN to detect radiation contamination from past
underground nuclear testing as well as to determine if NTS facilities
are in compliance with permit discharge limits for radionuclides, and if
radionuclides in surface or spring waters expose NTS wildlife to
hazardous doses.
Onsite water quality monitoring is performed by BN to ensure
that drinking water and wastewater on the NTS meet all the applicable
water quality standards and permit requirements.
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