Tritium Transport in the Transboundary Neris River During the Routine Operation of the Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant: A Monitoring and Modeling Approach

Abstract

This study presents long-term observations of tritium (3H) concentrations in the Neris River at monitoring sites located near the Belarus–Lithuania border and in the city of Vilnius. Since the commissioning of the Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant (BelNPP), 3H levels in the river have consistently exceeded natural background values, with pronounced temporal variations. These fluctuations are attributed to routine 3H releases from the BelNPP, with increased concentrations observed during scheduled maintenance periods. A 3H transport model was developed to estimate the downstream propagation of releases and to assess the time lag between upstream discharge events and their detection at downstream locations. The model reliably simulates 3H behavior in flowing water and can be adapted to future scenarios and other water-soluble radionuclides, provided that isotope-specific and hydrological data are available. These findings highlight the importance of continued monitoring and further research on the fate and transport of radioactive substances in transboundary river systems.