Cachuca Reservoir: The IAEA wants to measure the water level itself

In light of discrepancies in reported data about the water level in Ukraine’s Kakhovka reservoir, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) requested that it be able to make the measurements itself. The International Atomic Energy Agency said yesterday that IAEA inspectors who are constantly present at the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant should be given access to the reservoir so they can explain why there are “significant differences” in the measurements of the different facilities.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said he hoped his staff would have access “very soon” to be able to independently assess the situation.

The Cachuca Reservoir dam was destroyed on Tuesday, and massive amounts of water leaked and flooded areas over a wide area. Lake water is also used to cool the six reactors of the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant. This has been occupied by Russian forces for months.

The difference is up to two metres

According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, the management of the combined heat and power plant near the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant last reported the water level in the reservoir at about 11.3 meters, compared to about 17 meters before the dam collapse. However, the International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that other places adjacent to the reservoir are seeing further declines in water levels. The difference is up to two meters compared to the water level reported in Zaporizhia.

The reactors at the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant have been shut down for months. However, the fuel in the reactor core and in the storage ponds must be constantly cooled to prevent the core from melting and releasing radioactivity into the environment.