Dilution of ¹³⁷Cs in sea at Kalpakkam site

Low level radioactive liquid waste generated from nuclear facilities are treated, diluted and disposed into the sea by the Centralised Waste Management Facility as per technical specification limits. The liquid waste containing fission and activation products is discharged into the sea through an approach jetty located at Madras Atomic Power Station. Once discharged into the sea ¹³⁷Cs concentration decreases due to dilution and sorption on the suspended sediments. Hence a study was conducted to ascertain dilution factor of ¹³⁷Cs activity after release to the marine environment. It confirms negligible impact of ¹³⁷Cs activity in seawater, demonstrating the safe operation of Nuclear Facilities at Kalpakkam. The observed decrease in ¹³⁷Cs as a function of distance may be combined effect of both dilution and sorption on the suspended sediments