KDVR – Uranium is found at the hollow chimney tank site, which is currently underwither to the west of Lake Carter in Laimer Province.
The town of Superior, which is one of nine cities, two water and power supplies Appointment to benefit From the CHIMNEY hollow tank project, it announced on Thursday that it was “monitoring the quality of water quality” from the site.
The Chimney Hollow tank, which has been under construction since 2021, was built to “help increase water rights” for many municipalities that depend on raw water from the Northern Water, according to Superior.
The city advised the residents that it expects the need to treat a level of uranium in the future, but said that its water treatment plant is equipped to remove uranium levels “much lower” The maximum polluted level – The highest level of pollutants permitted in drinking water.
“We continue to monitor the situation closely and work actively with northern water specialists to solve the problem,” the city said in a press statement.
According to Navajo Nation EPACommunication with uranium can have chemical and radiological effects on the body, including kidney damage and increased risk of high blood pressure, autoimmune diseases, genital problems, lung cancer and bones.
Sobs said that he is currently receiving most of its uneducated raw waters from the melting of the snow in the upper Kolurado River basin, as part of the North Water’s Thompson Grand Project.
In addition to Superior, you will benefit the Chimney Hollow Reservoir Broomfield, Loverland, Greley, Erie, LongMont, Louisville, Fort Lupton, Laffayette, The Little Thompson Water District, Weld County District area Central and Platte River Power.
How is the hollow tank project affected
The northern waters said in a charity This initial data from the continuous water quality test indicates the risk of high concentrations of uranium in the hollow of chimneys over the water supply standard, with the duration of the risk “unconfirmed” and under the investigation.
The agency said that the risk is expected to decrease over time, and that no water from the tank will be delivered “until all the assessments are completed.” Northon water said the mitigation plan is also developed to “ensure safe water supply.”
“Although the discovery of uranium represents a setback for initial plans, it is a problem that can be managed safely and is expected to decrease over time,” the agency said.
Northern Water said it also evaluates the first packing table “in light of this discovery,” but the hollow tank of chimneys “is still an important part of securing the water supply needs of North Colorado and its future.”
2023 The discovery did not reveal the full scope of the case
Superior said that water quality tests revealed high levels of uranium in water, which were part of the emergency discharge from Coffeerdam in the Chimney Hollow tank during the “important rain event” in 2023.
Northern Water said that uranium monitoring has been going on since December 2021, but it has not been a source of concern before because its levels are constantly low.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for organizing uranium and its children Mcl set In 30 micrograms per liter. Northern waters said that uranium concentrations remained less than this – often less than 10 micrograms per liter – until the Spring of 2023.
A sample collected from the site after emergency secretions in 2023, however, discovered the level of uranium of 225 micrograms per liter, according to the northern water.
The agency said that the initial examination was not completely disclosed of the scope of the case, “however, and that uranium levels during the remaining period from 2023 to 2024 were” transversely high “and returned to lower levels” after the initial rise. “
“The source of uranium was not known and not preserved high levels, the case does not seem to be continuing at that time,” she said.
The northern waters said that uranium levels rose again – more – and at higher altitudes – after an unloading event in the second emergency cases in the spring of 2024, which led to an official investigation into the uranium source.
It was not until January and February this year, as the naturally cut granite rock during construction became a potential source of uranium, according to the agency, which said the subsequent nomination tests conducted in February and March this year confirmed doubts.
“Investigations clearly indicated a granite rock used to provide materials from the quarry as a source of uranium,” Northwar Water said.