How is the leak at Xcel Monticello Plant being managed?

Xcel Energy notified the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) as well as the state when the leak was confirmed. The company has since coordinated regularly with regulators as the company has been pumping, storing, treating and reusing the leaked water.

Xcel Energy has indicated that ongoing monitoring from over two dozen on-site monitoring wells confirms that the leaked water is fully contained on-site and has not been detected beyond the facility or in any local drinking water. State agencies continue to monitor Xcel Energy’s remediation work to ensure the continued safety of the local community and surrounding environment.

The company has constructed new monitoring and recovery wells and has increased the frequency of measurements from its network of over two-dozen groundwater monitoring wells to enhance its monitoring and recovery efforts. Large storage tanks are also likely to be constructed on-site to store recovered water until it can be treated and reused.

The federal and state regulating agencies determine the appropriate governmental responses to incidents at the Xcel nuclear plant, including any emergency response, remedial actions and public information and media releases. If there is any impact to our drinking water supply or infrastructure, we will immediately notify the public with assistance from these agencies. For now, we will continue to advocate for our community and participate in the response as appropriate at the city-level.

Show All Answers

1. What is Tritium?
2. Does this affect Monticello’s drinking water?
3. Is the City testing our Municipal Water System?
4. Who can I contact for more information about the leak at Xcel?
5. How did the leak at the Xcel Monticello Plant happen?
6. How is the leak at Xcel Monticello Plant being managed?
7. How do I test my private well for Tritium?
8. Where can I find additional resources?
9. What are the next steps?