Officials from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission and Atomic Energy Canada on Tuesday confirmed that another water leak has been discovered at the Chalk River reactor but that it did not disrupt isotope production and does not pose any threat to the public or environment. This is the third leak since December that has been found at the aging facility that provides about half the global supply of isotopes used in medical imaging. An AECL official told the committee that 11 kilograms of heavy water were ventilated from the reactor after two tiny pin holes were found in a pipe Sunday morning.
The pipe has been patched and will be replaced at a later date. The announcement complies with changes made to reporting standards after a major leak in December was not immediately disclosed, causing public concern.
