| An important step in the cleanup of the site was the treatment of radiologically and chemically contaminated water.
Water treatment began in 1992 with a mobile system that treated water generated during building decontamination and dismantlement. The Quarry Water Treatment Plant became operational in the fall of 1992 and began treating water from the quarry. In 1993, the Site Water Treatment Plant was constructed to increase treatment capacity. The plant was used for two separate operations. Train 1, a conventional chemical precipitation and media filtration system, treated contaminated water from building dismantlement, storage areas, and raffinate pit 4. Water from raffinate pits 1, 2 and 3 contained nitrates and selenium, which could not be treated with conventional waste water systems. This water was treated through biological processes, reverse osmosis, and through the Site Water Treatment Plant Train 2.
After treatment in the plants, water was tested to assure compliance with permit limits, then released to the Missouri River. Over 290 million gallons of water were treated, tested and released during water treatment operations.
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