Volume of influent brine again at low level after having increased previously
Over a short period of time volumes had about doubled at a location in a depth of 750 metres
The volume of brine accumulating in the area of the Reichelt swamps in a depth of 750 metres has strongly decreased again since the beginning of the year. Instead of 500 litres per day, under 100 litres are currently collected. The volume is thus under the previously measured level of about 200 litres. In October 2014 (in German), the Federal Office for Radiation Protection reported that the volume of brine collected had doubled.
The brine is not radioactively contaminated. It comprises only a small portion of the entire saline water volume of 12,000 litres flowing daily into the mine. The aforementioned location is nowhere near the emplacement chamber containing radioactive wastes.
Changes in the collected volumes are not unique. The same applies to the aforementioned area in a depth of 750 metres. The cause cannot be clearly attributed. Geologists state that the changes are due, among others, to the complexity of the flow systems in this particular area of the Asse mine.
The Federal Office for Radiation Protection is obliged to report changes in the volume of influent brine to the Federal State Mining Authority, even if they do not impair operation. That also happened in October 2014.