The Pilgrim nuclear power plant will start using chemical dyes this month to try to discover the origin of high levels of the radioactive isotope tritium in an onsite monitoring well. Plant operator Entergy Corp. said elevated levels of tritium that exceed federal drinking water standards were found in the well in September. Officials have so far been unable to pinpoint the source. Different colored dyes will be used in different systems to try to detect the origin. A plant spokesman said the tritium levels pose no threat to the public water supply nor to nearby Cape Cod Bay. He told The Patriot Ledger of Quincy it could take several weeks for the dye tests to show results.
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