FIELD MONITORING OF WATER SUPPLIES FOR RADIOACTIVITY FEASIBILITY STUDY

A STUDY IS PROPOSED TO DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF A NEW MEASUREMENT SYSTEM FOR DETERMINATION OF RADIOACTIVE CONTAMINATION IN WATER UNDER BATTLEFIELD CONDITIONS. THE PROPOSED SYSTEM HAS THE ADVANTAGES OF AN EASY TO USE, LIGHTWEIGHT, COMPACT, AND RUGGEDIZED MONITORING SYSTEM FOR DIRECT MEASUREMENT OF FISSION PRODUCT CONTAMINATION IN WATER. IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT THE SYSTEM WILL BE CAPABLE OF DETECTING 1000 PCI/1 OF MIXED FISSION PRODUCTS IN THE PRESENCE OF 100 MR/HR RADIATION BACKGROUND. THE MEASURMENT TECHNIQUE IS BASED ON DIRECT MEASUREMENT OF BETA PARTICLES EMITTED BY NUCLIDES WITHIN THE WATER WHILE THE DETECTOR AND SOURCE ARE HELD IN A FIXED CONSISTENT GEOMETRY WITHIN A COLLAPSABLE WATER CONTAINER. THE WATER UNDER INTERROGATION WILL ACT AS A SHIELD AGAINST BETA FROM OUTSIDE THE COLLAPSABLE CONTAINER.