Groundwater extraction begins at Zaporizhzhia NPP

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has begun pumping water from a new groundwater well and plans to build more at the site as part of efforts to ensure sufficient cooling for its 6 reactors after the destruction of the Ukrainian dam. The dam’s collapse has forced the plant to take steps to protect remaining available water bodies, including a large cooling pond near the site, and to begin searching for alternative water sources. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said the new groundwater well and 10-12 other wells to be built later will ensure sufficient cooling water for many months. The IAEA strongly recommends installing an external source of process steam, which, from a nuclear safety perspective, would be the safest long-term solution for the site.