The NYT reports:

"A one-and-a-half-inch hole caused by corrosion allowed about 100,000 gallons of water to escape from the main system that keeps the reactor cool immediately after any shutdown, according to nuclear experts. The leak was discovered on Feb. 16, according to the plant’s owner, Entergy Nuclear Northeast, a subsidiary of the Entergy Corporation."

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/02/nyregion...

No one it seems has gotten around to actually digging up the 8-inch supply pipe in question, since it was buried in 1973, to see what kind of condition its condition is in. Not to worry, they have back up systems if the reactor should shut down, like it did on April 3.

But . . .

"Paul Blanch, an electrical engineer and nuclear safety expert who worked at Indian Point in 2001 and 2002, said that because neither pipe has been inspected, except for a short section that was replaced when the hole was located in February, 'they shouldn't’be operating right now.' He said the plant could be operating with a backup system that is ready to fail."

Oh, pooh, pooh. There's always the the local municipal water system in case of an emergency.

But . . .

"Plant operators dislike using such water because city tap water is not as clean as reactor water. And critics point out that the system is not safety-rated, meaning it is not certified to work in adverse conditions like blackouts and earthquakes and is not maintained as carefully."

That's nice to know. Our drinking water isn't up to the high standards of the nuclear industry.

There's a number of disturbing things about this story. One other is the fact that all these ancient nuke plants are rapidly aging in ways no one can anticipate. It's totally Terra incognita as the NRC decides on whether to reissue their operating licenses. And we want to build more of them?????

Why does this image keep going through my head?