Nuclear submarine 'leaks radioactive water' into river

River water monitoring

Nuclear submarine 'leaks radioactive water' into river

11 Nov, 2008

Published over 17 years ago. See the latest and most current information on River water monitoring.

An incident which saw a British nuclear-powered submarine, HMS Trafalgar, allegedly leak radioactive waste into a UK river is being investigated, it has been reported.

According to the Environment Agency, HMS Trafalgar was responsible for more than a quarter of a tonne of radioactive water being leaked into the River Tamar in Portsmouth.

The spillage occurred after a faulty hosepipe was used to transfer the wastewater from the vessel to a tank on shore, the Telegraph reported.

Tests on the river's water, conducted by the Environment Agency, have indicated no signs of increased radiation levels and the water poses no risk to public health, it claimed.

However, John Large, a nuclear consultant, described the incident as "very serious".

"There is an underlying problem of accountability and the Ministry of Defence has only described this incident a few days after it occurred," he explained.

In October, it was announced that Camilla Parker Bowles, among other public figures, was to visit nuclear-powered submarine HMS Astute in Cumbria.

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