During a routine maintenance check, a small leak was found in a nuclear reactor at the Palo Verde Power Plant last week. Arizona Public Service representatives say that the leak does not pose a risk to the community.
The small leak at Palo Verde was discovered as a result of NRC-mandated inspections and federal inspectors were on the job when the small leak was discovered.
The Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station (PVNGS), located about 50 miles west of Phoenix near Wintersburg, is the largest nuclear energy facility in the United States. Comprised of three pressurized water reactors, PVNGS generates 4,000 megawatts in service of 4 million inhabitants of Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas.
PVNGS is the only nuclear facility not adjacent to a large body of water; instead, reclaimed wastewater, de-mineralized and de-ionized well water are used to meet its cooling needs.