Cooling water basins: testing is on!

They look very inviting indeed, but sorry: no swimming, no fishing! The four large basins on the ITER site that will take the cooling water from the Tokamak Complex before its release into the Durance River are currently undergoing waterproof testing. It is a two-step process: after close inspection of the welded joints in each of the 3,000 cubic-metre basins, the first is filled with water. The waterproof membrane coating the inside of the basin is verified, before draining the water into the second basin—and then the third and fourth—to repeat the process.

The test time for each basin, not including filling and emptying, is estimated at about one week. Once all the tests have been successfully completed, the Cari company responsible for the work will add 15 centimetres of cement to each basin to protect the waterproof membrane. Work on the basins should be complete by the end of April.