Liquid effluents, which are produced from different parts of the plant, are routed to the liquid waste treatment plant to be decontaminated and chemically neutralized. Radioactivity arises mainly from impurities in the effluents that are

easy to precipitate and to trap as solid wastes. These solid wastes are then conditioned appropriately for disposal. Liquid effluents are then filtered and monitored prior to authorized release to the sea. Each release is performed after analysis of representative samples under the control of the radiation protection unit. Released volumes and amounts are recorded and sent on a monthly basis to the safety authorities.

As an example, the liquid releases at La Hague in France, measured in 2002 (Source: French Nuclear Energy Society), are given in Table 16.3.