AECL says no danger posed by heavy water leak at Chalk River

CHALK RIVER, Ont. - Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. says there was no danger to the public or the environment this week when heavy water leaked from a valve at its Chalk River facility.

AECL says about 42 litres of heavy water was spilled during work to prepare its main reactor for a return to service.

The spill was detected by detection equipment and the refill halted.

The source of the spill was located at a flange on a valve in the system.

The atomic agency says most of the heavy water was mopped up and will be recycled.

But about seven litres evaporated through the ventilation system and AECL says on its website that the release was well below regulatory limits for tritium release.

Operations staff at the reactor complex north of Ottawa are now examining piping connections to forestall a similar leak.

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  A warning sign outside the nuclear reactor at the Atomic Energy Canada Limited plant in Chalk River, Ontario, Wednesday, December 19 2007. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Fred Chartrand