It"��s hard to believe that it took over a year to find out what was contaminating the water in a small town just outside of New York. Incredible, but true, over a year. Officials called the situation unique, saying each case of tracking the source of contaminated water is different. That may very well be true, but townsfolk figure over a year is just a bit ridiculous and deadly when it comes to their health and welfare. If they had water distillers or a home water distillation system in place, this story might have a different outcome for their health.

Once that leak was finally identified, it was up to the nuclear energy company to stop the leak and start a process called remediation. Remediation often includes leaving the contamination in the ground and keeping a close eye on it; or pumping the water into storage tanks in order to measure the radioactivity and then allowed to go through the radioactive decay process.

What was found in the town water? Tritium, otherwise referred to as GZ3, was finally found in a well about halfway down a riverbank close to the nuclear plant. It had been in place since about 2007, the same year authorities called for nuclear reactors in the area to start monitoring groundwater in the area for contamination. If town residents would have thought of it then, they could have taken steps to protect themselves and their family water supply by having water distillers or a home water distillation system ensure they had fresh, safe water.

It appears that the radioactive water is draining into the river, but because of the swiftness of the flow, no detectable levels of the tritium show up in river water tests. Whatever is actually happening to the contamination is not precisely the point in this story, getting the contamination stopped and contained is. Leaving radioactive water in the ground and monitoring it is not acceptable to anyone in the area.

There were some discussions about shutting the plant down, putting it into mothballs for years on end, and then when the trust set up on its decommissioning had acquired enough money, they could clean up the site. Local residents, while interested in that idea, also rely on the plant for employment. They are more concerned about the sources and what will be done to shut those down.

Turns out the source may be one of three things: the advanced off-gas system, the condensate storage tank, or the radwaste system trenches. One of the trenches held 150 gallons of water that was contaminated with radioactive material. What the ultimate outcome in this small town will be is anyone"��s guess, but suffice it to say that the townsfolk are greatly concerned about the effect of the water on their health. Many residents are beginning to do research on the viability of water distillers or a home water distillation system.