-12-
HW-80991
Manyof the radionuclides formed in reactor cooling water are shortlived and decay rapidly after formation.
In addition to radioactive decay,
Some portion of the radionuclides is removed from the water by sedimentation and uptake by aquatic organisms.
The radionuclides in the river also
include some contribution of "fallout" from weapons tests.
Samples of river water were obtained every 2 weeks from Vernita
Ferry, Hanford Ferry, 300 Area, the inlet to the Pasco municipal water
plant, and Vancouver.
Some samples of river water were also collected at
Richland, particularly during the latter part of the year when the new water
plant was in operation.
River water samples were analyzed for several
radionuclides and the results of the analyses are presented in Appendix A,
Tables 1, 2, 3, and 4.
The relative abundance of the significant radionuclides at Hanford
Ferry, Pasco, and Vancouver is illustrated in Figure 3.
The areas of the
circles are proportional to the total activity measured at the three locations.
The average concentrations of radionuclides measured routinely at the four
river sampling stations are shown in Table II.
TABLE I
ANNUAL AVERAGE CONCENTRATIONS
OF SEVERAL RADIONUCLIDES IN COLUMBIA RIVER WATER - 1963
Units of pc/1
Radionuclide
Hanford Ferry
Richland
Total Beta
RE+Y
Na“*
p32
cr}
52, 000
1, 800
7,700
340
12, 000
23, 000
640
3, 400
260
8, B00
Mn°®
cu®4
zn
agi
sro
ps
Np 239
9, 800
17,000
- 470
2, 400
1
12
3, 300
Pasco
11,000
440
1, 600
190
6, 700.
-
5, 900
380
1, 200
1
8
2, 100
-
-
2, 300.
220
750
Vancouver
500
30
2, 600
-
-
-
1
8
1, 600
-
60
4
.