ML20086F325

Environ RO 77-7:pH for Sewage Plant Effluent Exceeded ETS Limit.Caused by Influent W/Ph Slightly Lower than Normal.Plant Neutralized & Returned to Normal Operation

ML20086F325
Person / Time
Site:	Peach Bottom
Issue date:	02/22/1977
From:	Cooney M PECO ENERGY CO., (FORMERLY PHILADELPHIA ELECTRIC
To:	Stello V Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
RO-77-7, NUDOCS 8312210092
Download: ML20086F325 (2)

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O PHILADELPHIA ELECTRIC COMPANY

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C taisi e414ooo February 22, 1977 i gj 42 Mr. Victor Stello, Jr.

Director Division of Operating Reactors Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulations U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Cormiission Washington, DC 20555

Dear Mr. Stello:

SUB JECT:

ENVIRONMENTAL DEVIATION The following deviation was reported to Mr. Walt Baunack, Office of Inspection and Enforcement, Region 1, United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission on February 14, 1977

Reference:

License Number DPR 44/56 Environmental Technical Specifications 2.2 3 Report No.:

50-277/278-77-7 Report Date:

February 22, 1977 Deviaticn Date:

February 12, 1977 Facility:

Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station Units 2 & 3 R.D. 1, Delta, PA 17314 Identifi, cation of Deviation:

The pH for the sewage plant effluent exceeded the Environmental Technical Specification limit.

Conditions Prior to Deviation:

Sewage plant operating normally.

Description of Deviation:

A daily grab sample from the sewage plant effluent measured a pH of 5.5.

The Technical Specification limit is that pH shall be within the range of 6.0 to 9.0.

8312210092 770222 gDRADOCK05000 ojg COPY SENT REGION,*

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O Mr. Victor Stello, Jr.

50-277/278-77-7

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February 22, 1977 Page 2

Designation of Apparent Cause of Deviation:

An acidic solution may have been flushed into the sewage system and reduced the pH of the whole system; however, since no such source could be located, it is thought that the low pH of the effluent was caused by influent with pH slightly lower than normal but a pH above 6.0 coupled with the natural pH drop across this style of sewage treatment plant.

Analysis of Deviation:

The duration of the deviation was less than one and a half hours. Because the effluent from the sewage plant was being diluted by a factor of 50,000 at the time, the pH change in the circulating water leaving the discharge canal was not detectable. The environmental impact was insignificant.

Corrective Action:

The sewage plant was neutralized and returned to normal opera-tion. A joint effort between Feach Bottom and Betz Environmental Engineers, Inc. is underway to optimize the operation of the sewage plant in order to prevent further deviation of this nature.

Failure Data:

50-277/278-76-36, 50-277/278-76-42, 50-277/278-76-43, 50-277/

278-77-3, and 50-277/278-77-5 Very truly yours, M.

. Cooney Su erintendent Generation Division-Nuclear cc:

J. P. O'Reilly NRC, Regional Office l

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