Investigation of Lake Ontario water quality near Port Granby radioactive waste management site

Abstract

The concentrations of226Ra, As, and NO 3 − have been measured in Lake Ontario waters off Eldorado Nuclear Limited's Port Granby radioactive waste management site. Only one sample gave a226Ra value higher than the Ontario criterion for public surface water supplies. The highest levels of As and NO 3 − were below the Ontario criteria. The leachate plume appears to move parallel to the shoreline in the direction of the prevailing wind but disperses rapidly reaching ambient levels within 150 m of the source. The leaching of these pollutants has only a minor effect on the lake water quality.