Federal Court OKs Radioactive Water Release into Hudson River, Source of Drinking Water for 100,000
☢️ Federal Court OKs Radioactive Water Release into Hudson River, Source of Drinking Water for 100,000
A recent federal court ruling has approved Holtec International, the company decommissioning the Indian Point Energy Center in Buchanan, New York, to release about 45,000 gallons of treated water containing tritium into the Hudson River.
😱 What the Court Decided
In September 2025, U.S. District Judge struck down New York State’s “Save the Hudson” law, which had banned the discharge of radioactive wastewater during decommissioning. The judge ruled that federal law preempts state regulation in matters involving radiological safety, giving primary authority to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
💦 What’s in the Water
According to Holtec and NRC filings, the treated water contains tritium, a radioactive form of hydrogen that forms part of water molecules and cannot be removed with conventional treatment methods (NRC Backgrounder on Tritium). Other radionuclides and heavy metals are reported to be below detectable or regulatory limits, though not necessarily zero.
👦 How Many People Depend on the Hudson
The Hudson River Drinking Water Intermunicipal Council (Hudson 7) reports that about 100,000 people in the Hudson Valley rely on the river for drinking and bathing after treatment (Hudson 7, 2024 Fact Sheet). Drinking-water treatment removes most contaminants, but tritium passes through conventional filtration, meaning safety relies on dilution and monitoring rather than removal.
🧪 Safety and Scientific Context
Tritium is reportedly considered low-risk when properly regulated and diluted, emitting low-energy beta radiation that cannot penetrate skin and does not bioaccumulate, unlike substances such as mercury or cesium. Studies say, most tritium is eliminated from the human body within about 10 days. Even for people who drink tritiated water daily, the total radiation dose over time remains far below levels that could cause sickness or serious health effects, if the discharge contains only tritium and stays within federal safety limits, according to the U.S. NRC.
However, independent scientists and environmental groups have raised questions about transparency and verification, noting that even trace amounts can enter river sediments or aquatic ecosystems over time. Public oversight and independent testing are essential to ensure long-term environmental safety.
‼️ Controversy
The discharge plan remains controversial because what is considered “safe” depends on assumptions about dilution, monitoring, and cumulative exposure. Environmental organizations, including Riverkeeper and Scenic Hudson, continue to advocate for independent testing before any release.
This debate is not just about the Hudson River; it highlights key challenges of clean energy, even when the power produced is low-carbon.
Sources:
https://yonkerstimes.com/judge-indian-point-can-dump.../
https://enviropolitics.com/judge-rules-radioactive-water.../
https://midhudsonnews.com/.../local-officials.../
https://www.reuters.com/.../new-york-law-curbing.../
https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML0620/ML062020079.pdf
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