Radioactive Waste Disposal Consultancy

As with the disposal of any waste, radioactive waste material has the potential to generate soluble products that may gain access to groundwater systems, flow within these systems and discharge to surface water receptors.  Protection of groundwater and surface waters around radioactive waste disposal sites is paramount.

ESI has a strong team of hydrogeologists and modellers who are able to undertake the necessary risk assessments to explore whether current or proposed waste disposal options are likely to cause environmental impacts.

The majority of low level waste is currently disposed of at the Drigg Waste Disposal Site in Cumbria, which is operated by the British Nuclear Group.  Intermediate and high level waste are being stored until such time as the United Kingdom government decides on a long term strategy.

As with any industrial facility, contamination of the ground adjacent to nuclear facilities is a concern, and often has occurred in the past.  Adequate monitoring and characterisation of contamination issues must be undertaken to ensure that the risk to humans, groundwater and other environmental receptors is minimised.

In order to understand contamination risks to groundwater and surface water associated with radioactive waste disposal sites and radioactive waste facilities, an advanced risk assessment approach is necessary.  Assessments use the accepted ‘source, pathway, receptor’ methodology.  Where ‘source’ is the radioactive source, ‘pathway’ is the contaminant migration within made ground and the natural geological system, and ‘receptors’ are potentially groundwater or surface waters.

In line with current regulatory guidance, a conceptual understanding of the flow and transport mechanisms is also required upon which to base the assessment.  However, given the complexity of groundwater systems, there is often considerable uncertainty associated with conceptual models, and the impact of this uncertainty must also be quantified and evaluated if a meaningful risk assessment is to be delivered.

Case Studies: - Radioactive Waste Disposal Consultancy

• Groundwater and contaminant transport modelling

Please contact ESI (01743 276100 / email) for more information on radioactive waste disposal consultancy service.