Would you swim in power plant wastewater?

Normally, the answer would be no. But in these very limited circumstances, at Iceland's Blue Lagoon, you can swim in geothermal power plant wastewater, and it's even healthy: although the marketing material doesn't usually mention it. Here's a story about geothermal energy, cheap heat, and how to keep some ducks warm.
Sources:
www.c40.org/case_studies/the-...
www.verkis.com/projects/utili...
nea.is/geothermal/direct-util...
icelandmag.is/article/nine-fa...
askjaenergy.com/iceland-renew...
nautholsvik.is/en/
perlan.is/about-perlan/
www.epa.gov/coalash/coal-ash-...
Research on Blue Lagoon and a skin condition: doi.org/10.1016/S0738-081X(96...
Filmed safely: www.tomscott.com/safe/
🟥 MORE FROM TOM: www.tomscott.com/
(you can find contact details and social links there too)
📰 WEEKLY NEWSLETTER with good stuff from the rest of the internet: www.tomscott.com/newsletter/
❓ LATERAL, free weekly podcast: lateralcast.com/ / lateralcast
➕ TOM SCOTT PLUS: / tomscottplus
👥 THE TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES: / techdif

[@TomScottGo]

One thing I couldn't fit into my script: the pipeline expands by around several metres along its length when it's in use, because of the hot water running through it. The big boxes along the way are expansion joints and supports to allow it to move! As ever, all my sources are in the description.

[@MonkeNoel]

Hi

[@jadeblades]

Hi

[@undefined6322]

4 weeks ago???

[@MixerGamesHD]

You are going nucleair Tom

[@swedishcomedian7090]

Well this is old!

[@jagger-brawlstars8402]

At this point I feel like like he's sponsored by Iceland's tourist department

[@heathmccasland]

I ain't even mad.

[@WangleLine]

That would be neat

[@orange77_]

I'm cool with that

[@anthonyy1790]

It’s working

[@TapDat52K]

I wish I could be sponsored by a country's tourist department

[@regretsin8502]

A Brit calling anywhere “a bit wet” is terrifying

[@johannjohannsson8255]

I live in iceland its always raining in reykjavik(the capital) were i live it does not rain much

[@RealGestumblindi]

@@johannjohannsson8255 As a tourist, I also noticed this difference. If you arrive in Seyðisfjörður (in the east of Iceland) with Norröna to wonderful sunny weather, you can expect to have a cold, rainy day in Reykjavík ;-)

[@scootergrant8683]

@@RealGestumblindi Gosh I wish ligatures, accents and other 'special characters' were still used in English. But unfortunately we dropped them.

[@BierBart12]

@@scootergrant8683 It sure would make all the confusion between same-sounding and same-looking words in English way less confusing

[@theuncanspan]

You're half right

[@spdcrzy]

"It only loses a couple of degrees over dozens of kilometers" I'M SORRY WHAT?! You can't just gloss over that bit, Tom! That's a MASTERPIECE of engineering!

[@richardmillhousenixon]

It's the magic of a metric fuckton of insulation

[@blablabla1000able]

The bigger the pipes the less heat it will lose (relative to the volume of water that gets moved)

[@brendancull8316]

Across the road from my flat there is a plant that heats up water, built by for St. Andrews University, and it pipes hot water into St. Andrews four and a half miles away. it is used by the university to heat its' buildings in the town,

[@TheRealGuywithoutaMustache]

"Would You Swim In Power Plant Wastewater?" Tom: Well yes, but actually no

[@icantthinkofanoriginaluser1251]

are you real

[@icantthinkofanoriginaluser1251]

i checked your channel and yes

[@icantthinkofanoriginaluser1251]

hi bro make another video

[@bwub__]

can you stop being everywhere thanks

[@D4h]

hi again

[@Murzilka95]

British guy calling a country "A bit wet" probably means there are rains 23/7

[@pleaseenteraname9414]

25/8**

[@sex.master4]

very accurate

[@Fended]

27/10

[@FS-me8mj]

∞/7

[@GregoryMcStevens]

2÷4

[@Opus313]

Those ducks don't realize how lucky they are. A place to swim in winter and being in a Tom Scott video!

[@kathrinehmunk]

Well Tom does get easily charmed by ducks.

[@arixon3226]

That Duck now is probably more famous than me

[@finnersmcspeed5646]

It's so sweet

[@joshuaidugboe214]

I wish I could touch the anime juice

[@floxy20]

Like Holden Caufield I too worried about ducks in the winter, until I saw them swimming in zero weather in a nearly frozen over river in Montreal. They were even diving under water.

[@bazza945]

Icelandic ducks: "Migrate south for the Winter?! You must be joking!"

[@Riley_Mundt]

3:00 That is the greatest subtle way of saying "I'm really cold" on camera I've ever heard.

[@oliverdouble-u8107]

When a British person says that somewhere is a bit wet, you should probably bring about seven umbrellas

[@trashmix2184]

Nah, the umbrellas will probably get destroyed by the sheer force of the rain

[@Quasihamster]

A scuba suit rather.

[@ce1834]

Hello from Ireland, the UK’s supposed rainshield 😂

[@orkellSigvaldason]

Icelandic weather, wind particularly, laughs at your umbrella.

[@rxfclaymore8782]

@@ce1834 if yous are meant to be our rain shield you’re doing a shite job

[@AkaiProtea]

"It doesn't feel warm or else the Pipeline wouldn't do its Job" Glad to hear I am not the only one whose inital thought was "I wanna touch it to see if its warm"

[@elmerwilber3308]

.

[@caramelldansen2204]

me too comrade

[@trilogy7207]

saaaaame

[@ProPilotKo]

*Interesting*

[@Roberto-gn1hv]

Same xD

[@handlesarecringe957]

From what I've heard, spent fuel waste pools for nuclear plants are actually fairly safe to swim in, and will be actually "cleaner" from radiation than the surrounding room.

[@R421Excelsior]

From what I know if you tried to swim in one you would only live for a few seconds before you get shot by the security guards.

[@ME0WMERE]

@@R421Excelsior I see you are an XKCD fan

[@topilinkala1594]

There are so many things about nuclear power that are wrong. Why can't the waste heat of a nuclear plant be used to warm a city or a town? If you have coal, pellet, gas or whatever burning plant the waste heat is used to warm the nearby city all the time. It's politics and nothing to do about safety. In a finnish schoolbook the section of radiation tells how Chernobyl nuclear reactor accident causes so and so many cancers in Finland and next to it is a pie chart where background radiatiom is hundereds times greater than Chernobyl's radiation. this is how nuclear power is depicted to children. No wonder that people think it's scary and won't have nothing to do with it.

[@mrfrog0913]

​@@topilinkala1594just don't put the thing that can go kaboom in the middle of a city, put it a bit outside. It's simple.

[@timothymclean]

@@mrfrog0913 Nuclear power plants don't really go kaboom, not even if you get a Chernobyl-level disaster. Sometimes reactor components do, but the kaboom part doesn't really go past the power plant itself.

[@Kai-ef3wv]

youtbe recommending this video during japan releasing fukushima water is on point

[@ifyouhaveghosts6]

Exactly what I was thinking

[@MuamarMusaNurwigantara]

"Would you swim in a power plant waste water?" "No, because I can't swim."

[@john_titor1]

Missing out.

[@zakay_]

just time travel to a worldline where you can smh

[@n0cturnal3D]

Nice excuse ;)

[@jesslynaureliarudikan5803]

Same

[@ilikecheeseand4061]

I've been their and its only about 1.50m at then most....... No exuse

[@EightThreeEight]

If Tom is trying to convince us that Iceland is awesome, then he's doing a bloody good job of it.

[@HerkusM]

I’ve been there it really is. I had an amazing adventure in only 3 days though I recommend you get ready for very strong winds

[@hugodouglas7723]

I know it's so great it's class

[@Dango428]

I already believe Iceland is awesome because of the sheer number of memes that say it is

[@HandyC]

Been there.... twice... still need another visit as it is indeed bloody awesome.. it's like a different planet and I've been around the planet quite a bit!

[@Tooooooom]

@Jimmi K That's the one issue with Iceland in my opinion, the booze is taxed to hell

[@Loo0Lzz]

I lived near a nuclear power plant growing up. There was a bay near the plant where they released the circulated cooling water back out into the ocean, and this bay was usually about 5-10°C warmer than the surrounding ocean. Biggest danger was getting swept out to sea though, since the current was very strong.

[@zwenkwiel816]

so no super powers?

[@Vul_kaal]

Tampa? Near Apollo Beach?

[@mrfrog0913]

​@@zwenkwiel816Well yes, but you just drown before you get back to land.

[@dav2mai]

KZbin gotta have an algorithm that's like: "You've forgotten the contents of this video, watch it again" Me: "I've never watched thi-" "Never mind"

[@BenTenpenny]

Oh my god, the same thing happened to me a few moments ago. "I know this video but I forgot what 'the catch' was."

[@chipwalter4490]

"There's a hottub on the beach." - most Icelandic sentence ever said by anyone

[@Petra123231]

Chip Walter if it were truly icelandic it wouldve been : það er heitur pottur á ströndinni ;)

[@xiao4412]

@@Petra123231 im trying to learn icelandic for my trip in 2022

[@orrieliasen202]

@@xiao4412 epískt

[@melonkings4885]

@@xiao4412 þú heillar mig

[@ThePixel1983]

@@Petra123231 I think I can almost pronounce that!

[@SC-RGX7]

Ok, if a Brit consider a country "a bit wet", well the country is a bit wet

[@jacobesterson]

@Colin Deal *M O I S T*

[@eee832]

​@@jacobesterson "hey whats up everybody its me critikal"

[@piyushsahu6045]

exactly what I was thinking

[@ArsenalTheProtogen]

@@eee832 "this is the most moist country of all time" will be the next video

[@ericlewis3444]

When I went to the Blue Lagoon, it was very calming - even though a very cold and snowy day. Careful - the restaurant attached was very expensive. A fantastic trip if you visit is to get a tour of the nearby geothermal plant. It is absolutely mind-boggling.

[@ginsengjin]

Wow. I love how you compact information in your videos and while presenting many details not mentioned elsewhere at the same time presenting them in the clearest organized form. Thanks Tom.

[@EklypsiSs]

Tom has finally found a way to get that permanent red t-shirt look

[@Melatonin.Company]

EklypsiSs it’s still there under his hoodie

[@dr.winner2516]

@@Melatonin.Company Oh shoot u r right

[@anch95]

Grian Scott

[@SneakyAtom]

@@anch95 XD

[@Melatonin.Company]

Aniruddha Chatterjee wait I’m subscribed to him too... 😱

[@christopherg2347]

Did...a brit just call another land "a bit wet"?

[@jakerussell135]

yep

[@TheRaudmagi]

We are very wet tbh

[@jakerussell135]

@@TheRaudmagi that definitely can't be misinterpreted

[@christopherg2347]

@@TheRaudmagi But is your country wet compared to great Britain?

[@TheReaverOfDarkness]

hahaha Brits think their land is the wettest land. I live in Washington, it's about as wet as Britain. It's not that wet.

[@Adam-ec5qj]

I dont know why people keep comparing this to radiation. It’s literally geothermal waste.

[@psirvent8]

Because nuclear power plants do in fact exist 😂😂

[@deezboyeed6764]

@@psirvent8 and are the future.

[@DacalLP]

Hey Tom! I have started to use your videos to study for school aswell as watching you in my free time. It's so cool to see that a KZbinr I usually watch coincidentallly has a video about a topic we're learning in school! Cheers

[@chairshoe81]

Spongebob narrator: _"Ah, Blue Lagoon.."_

[@maxnaz47]

"couchy couchy coo"

[@hyngas1238]

I was looking for this😂😂

[@henrykieninger]

SpongeBobs bikini atoll is a real place its in the marshal Islands. the USA did alot nuclear testing their and thats why SpongeBob and friends can talk

[@zfortressyt_6662]

No no no no no no no no no its Goo Lagoon

[@chairshoe81]

@@zfortressyt_6662 youre goo

[@huitlang931]

Reads title: "no" Looks at thumbnail: "yes?" Watches video: "yesn't"

[@PersonManManManMan]

Hmmmmmmmm, should I, nooo, maybe, nooooo better not

[@Dogman_35]

I think "God no, it's 30 bucks" is the only right response here.

[@smokeybear1925]

@@Dogman_35 it’s more like “nice, it’s only30 bucks”

[@Olivia-W]

I went "hell yes." Then again, I already knew about how safe it is.

[@Kevin-tg1zr]

Euhm for me it already was to late if IT wasn't safe

[@Profesor449]

There is something really wrong here at the beginning. I'd like to see the stories of coal ash contamination... Water used to spin turbines in steam powerplants (gas/coal/nuclear, whatever) is actually demineralized so it does not damage the turbine itself - turbines are actually expected to work for 20+ years and the blades would be rusted much sooner and torn apart if the water had been contaminated. I'd gladly take a bath in demi-water. In fact, I remember our professor telling us that the steam turbines in Iceland are very special - because they are powered by the impure steam that comes from the geothermal activity, they have much shorter lifespan than conventional turbines (only a few years) and not as much precision goes into their making so it can be economically sustainable.

[@fonz174]

Agreed. Though feedwater isn't once-through, it's recirculated. This cooling water is just used in the condenser. No "coal ash" contamination possible.

[@yakobsoulstorm5187]

@Ithecastic We literally tore a whole in our atmosphere with fossil fuels.

[@tumbledryshoes]

I think he's referring to coal ash contamination that happens afterwards if waste products aren't contained properly, rather than contamination that happens in the turbines. For US based examples, there's a famous spill that happened in Tennessee in 2008 where a bunch of coal ash got into the local waterways. More recently there's Hyco Lake NC where Duke researchers found coal ash contamination, both from the power plant dumping coal ash directly into the lake before EPA regulation, and coal ash leaking into the lake later from faulty containment.

[@earendilthebright5402]

I love that you never ask for subscribers or likes. Your videos are always fascinating, I very much enjoy them. Much respect from Australia!

[@dehleringham6445]

The fact that I'm willing to voluntarily watch someone talk about waste for 5 minutes genuinely amuses me. This guy could make waiting rooms sound interesting.

[@J8n3eyr3]

Now I want to know the history of waiting rooms. Thanks for that.

[@tomstech4390]

Post10 exists, were obviously not above watching someone unclogging a drain for 15 minutes. Just watch and enjoy folks.

[@user-zr9hu3tf1y]

you must be new here, welcome :)

[@plzletmebefrank]

Waiting rooms are mildly interesting. There's a few problems you have to solve, keeping the people there entertained, having a good system to call people, making sure you get to everyone in turn, what color to paint it, what sort of things to put in it... Idk, there's a purpose to it, so there's different ways to meet those purposes, so it's actually a little interesting.

[@skankhunt4207]

@@plzletmebefrank nice Ted talk

[@matheusd.rodrigues429]

there's a "waterfall" in Brazil where the water used by the nuclear generator is dumped and you can bathe there. The water is clear and warm (they use the heat from the nuclear energy to heat common water and turn a vapor turbine, so the water is from that turbine, not the heavy water used to cool down the plant itself, that one is heavily regulated)

[@delet3999]

Onde isso?

[@danielmoura9421]

delet Angra dos Reis, Rio de Janeiro State

[@hoshimaruhajime7933]

Were is it by longitude and latitude and how completely safe it is

[@Anna-xy2lj]

cum to brasil

[@bighawie1095]

Anna yes

[@TheGreatYukon]

That is the best sell I have ever heard for Iceland. Christ, I wouldn't mind living there right about now, sounds wonderful.

[@armahpruski5877]

A bit pricy but is nice country, I went to visit a while back. It has some strong winds though.

[@meowikouwu]

Dont move there

[@vikingursigurdsson]

@@meowikouwu oi what's that about mate

[@chrislyne377]

I've been to the Blue Lagoon and it's absolutely brilliant. If you ever get the chance to go to Iceland, do it! Incredible place

[@youarentveryfunny7165]

"the worlds not going to run out of heat" 2020: "ill see if i can fit that into my schedule"

[@heronumbertwo3171]

Underrated

[@KristianFraNorge]

Dont give it any ideas

[@Cl0ckcl0ck]

But if you actively pump up heat from the core that heat doesn't just disappear. It will have a global warming effect.

[@suhailab3634]

Omg stop giving 2020 ideas

[@RASHY616]

It’ll get hotter I’m telling you

[@vintageyamahasquid]

I'd swim in the outlet of a nuclear power station. The water is perfectly safe. It's probably the most monitored and controlled water going into any body of water.

[@shanewright2772]

They did in Die Hard V and everything worked out just fine!

[@TheLostVector]

Maybe not turkey point though

[@user-ju6vo2rk7d]

@@shanewright2772 Sadly, the movie didn't.

[@ToddHowar.d]

Sure all of the fission products physically cant escape into a holding pond but I personally don’t know if water can be irradiated itself. Someone correct me if I’m wrong.

[@FortressLordJP193]

Nuclear plants get a bad rep from cartoons e.t.c. that make it look like glowing uranium rods melt into the water during direct contact and it just gets flushed out as toxic sludge. The water is almost entirely for cooling and then it gets filtered and topped up.

[@patrykmazurkiewicz3866]

You are not running out of ideas, Sir! Fantastic podcasts, Tom! Thanks for the educational and for the entertaining ingredients :)

[@shakirhussain3887]

Your content is put together brilliantly

[@viktorbo]

Fun fact: The Blue lagoon offers a considerable discount to those with psoriasis and excema because of the benefits from the water.

[@Tom_-]

I hope that discount is like 90%

[@gunnara1459]

It's free if you have a prescription from a doctor.

[@anonanon3066]

@@Tom_- be happy they are discounting at all. Don't get greedy

[@fractaldaydream6839]

When I went I got the worst sunburn of my life...

[@HerKneeUgh]

I’m booking my flight

[@Gromek999]

Wow, I was in Iceland no longer than a month ago, driving all around the place. I can ABSOLUTELY recommend visiting iceland and renting a car to drive around in! it is the best vacation you can possibly have.

[@KifTheIdiot]

Did not expect you here

[@koiq]

There is a pandemic on right now.... no one except for journalists or famous youtubers are going to be allowed to go there. For us less privileged, normal people, we may not be able to visit for many years.

[@ryanjenkins5450]

Gromek999 oh damn gromek

[@wootman8133]

love your terraria series

[@skippysmom]

tbh if you’re going in colder months i’d recommend taking a tourist trip rather than a car. you learn a lot more and it’s also a lot safer. i saw a lot of overturned cars on the roads there. bus takes you to all the secret spots!

[@sharsasuke01]

0:38 I love that sign. Its so minimalist.

[@citizenofthebikinibottom5617]

I'm going to Reykjavik in Iceland for a school trip in October, and we'll be going to the blue lagoon, thanks Tom, super reassured 👍

[@boink800]

When will Tom get his own BBC programme? Tom is such a real and amazing talent.

[@osvg5956]

I have a bbc

[@rowan3053]

How is the bbc shite?

[@itsjustaclint8404]

@@rowan3053 they care only for politics not for knowledge. Unless knowledge of politics.

[@uzijn]

@@rowan3053 Taxpayer-funded bias, propaganda and corruption.

[@ThePotato_]

@@uzijn the BBC isn't bias enough and let the stupid side talk too much

[@thehenryrobot]

Coke or Pepsi? Actually, I'll have a glass of power plant waste water, please!

[@tbrry]

henry i love you but you havent uploaded in a year please upload henry please i need you countent hepl pelase i want to se ehnery

[@daniele.parentmradamgamera2500]

pepsi

[@doggoplayz1253]

HENRY THE RC CAR yes

[@andrive]

Vertified

[@nick012000]

But it's not drinkable water. Have you watched the video?

[@rovaan57]

This is easily one of my favorite Tom Scott video I’ve seen, I want to visit Iceland now

[@bengosling4606]

Tom never ceases to amaze yet educate!

[@steamsuhonen9529]

What's it mean when a Brit says a country is "a bit wet?"

[@danielcoward3469]

It means it's utterly miserable... Brits always skirt around the point. How are you?.. I'm not bad. How's the weather?.. Not great. How's the food poisoning treating you? Could be worse.

[@LonelyCinderella123]

The problem with rain in Iceland is we never get heavy rain its just a little rain for a long ass time, sometimes most of the day many days in a row. I envy countries where the rain is like a shower for few minutes and then its over.

[@jamietalbot445]

@@danielcoward3469 Ehhh, close enough

[@Outfrost]

Was about to say, if a Brit says Iceland is a 'bit wet', it's probably flooding

[@Havron]

@@LonelyCinderella123 Sounds a lot like the US Pacific Northwest, only much colder, of course.

[@banc2636]

this was extreemly intresting info, subed

[@brian9731]

How did I miss this Tom video?! Fascinating as ever.

[@JesperHasteen]

This cheap power is why one of Icelands main exports is aluminium even when they dont mine any, refining it just requires so much power that its cheaper to ship it there instead.

[@82726jsjsufhejsjshshdjso]

Jesper Håsteen the other half of that equation is the fact that a lot of bauxite is mined in places that can't process it for a lack of power/expertise (example Guyana)

[@zapfanzapfan]

They have an entire hydro power plant built especially for that smelter. Was a bit controversial at the time.

[@heikesiegl2640]

I didn't know that! Thanks for the info

[@TheGodpharma]

That's also why aluminium is the most economical metal to recycle. The power needed is a fraction of what's required to produce virgin metal. So always put it in your recycling bin!

[@krashd]

Russia does a lot of aluminium smelting and the energy costs are staggering to the point that they run power plants almost to the red line to keep their smelters going. The Sayano-Shushenskaya accident could have been avoided as they knew the turbine that caused the accident was problematic and should have been running slower but they had to keep their output at a certain level due to the two aluminium smelters that the power plant feeds. When I read up on how much electricity is required to process aluminium I was gobsmacked.

[@citiesinruin9435]

KZbin is getting real comfortable with these 15 second double ads

[@Leenapanther]

Then don't watch on your mobile phone and use an ad blocker. Problem solved.

[@polarispulsar]

@@Leenapanther that costs money, and what if I wanna watch on my phone at nigh?

[@mitexmusic]

@@polarispulsar there are free ad blockers

[@Jayden3649]

@@polarispulsar uh youtube vanced exists and anyway there are free advlockers

[@MoukhaSR]

@@polarispulsar LMAO AD BLOCKERS ARE FREE

[@Realbenbudson]

@Tom Scott Thanks for citing your sources!

[@bencassi3657]

Tom looks so happy in the thumbnail 😄

[@mk2nathan]

I have gone swimming in this “waste water” and I would recommend it however there were some parts which were much warmer than others and as there was quite a lot of people in their as well as myself, the relaxation factor of it was overcome by a though of just swimming in other people’s piss.

[@valencehockey1668]

Ummmmmm

[@Rebar77_real]

Don't forget the dingleberries.

[@BagelBoi4000]

I assume you have to shower once you get out to wash off the silica so not really a big issue hygienically... But just the idea of it it a bit strange.

[@pugzgrinny2417]

That would make me fully relaxed

[@Rel1369]

No different to any other public pool then (in regards to swimming in others piss).

[@pallios]

Iceland: The country where human creativity and engineering never go to waste.

[@priyankagamer8845]

But what about good grammar?

[@Ledut-in-YT]

Iceland: A country that should be covered or made with ice.

[@bigjohnson9606]

Iceland is made of ice

[@Ledut-in-YT]

@@bigjohnson9606 Stop spreading your iceland propaganda. Tom Scott has shown us that Iceland arent made with ice, but soil

[@cyansus4227]

@@priyankagamer8845Just correct him

[@fleischlicht7452]

Near Livorno, Italy is a village called „Rosignano Solvay“ where a factory pumps the cooling water back to the sea. Its nice to swim inside it and feel the temperature difference between the sea and the warm white water. The beach looks realy tropical from the lime inside the water. Really a journey worth!

[@diegomanosperti8682]

Dude, are you smocking or something? That isn't just water, its full of toxic minerals, there are signs everywhere telling you to not go in the water, all fish and plant life in the area of the beach is half dead if not gone and the reason the beach looks tropical is because of thoose dangerous waste products, dont tell people to swim there, they could get horrible skin irritations

[@fleischlicht7452]

@@diegomanosperti8682 The beach is filled with people. It’s dangerous when you live there and swim in it every day but when you’re on vacation and do it only for two days its completely harmless.

[@diegomanosperti8682]

@@fleischlicht7452 i can assure you, you will never feel worse after not swimming there, expecially if you stay all day, there are many othere beaches to go in Tuscany, but this one isn't worth it

[@wingofunny]

Love to always see this, Iceland learned to use what it has available without outside heating/cooling. Its great but sadly not most places can do this since natural sites are so few and abundant.

[@JayExci]

Of course! I want 3 eyes like the simpsons fish. EDIT: Stop telling me it had 54 eyes. You're thinking of the squirrel from the movie. The fish had 3.

[@fizzyegg]

JAY HIHIHIHHH

[@AngusMac_]

Jay Exci yoooooooooooo

[@evilbird4012]

Hayyy

[@disgruntledwelsh3817]

Hey Jay Eggci

[@_Azulite_]

Hi jay

[@jasonfurmanek]

My father worked at Perry nuclear power plant in Ohio for over 30 years. When we would go fishing on Lake Erie, before 9/11 and increased security concerns, we would often go out to what was called "the bubble". It was the cooling water outlet from the plant. It was a giant pipe emerging from the bottom of the lake, well below the surface, and the water around it was the clearest I've ever seen in that lake. It was warm and full of fish. You could see the rumble of expelled water on the surface, hence the name. We had no shame about diving in and touching bottom or just lounging around. I seem to remember my father cautioning us about staying in too long, but I think that had more to do with making the guard towers on land nervous than anything else.

[@nickkosir9895]

As Lake County resident and Fairport beach goer, where exactly was the cool water outlet? Is it close to the shore and plant? I'm kinda interested to see it now

[@gudeosrs3830]

Whiskey island represent

[@howardnelson496]

Euclid OH. Love it. My dad lives up there off E 223rd St.

[@grn1]

I'm maybe an hour out from Lake Erie myself but rarely go downtown or to the lake. I know a few people who like to fish (never fished myself) so maybe some day I'll check it out.

[@R421Excelsior]

I just looked it up and Perry NPP has cooling towers. Do they use the lake water as an auxiliary system?

[@milozimben]

I've been to the Blue Lagoon. It was a great time, and definitely something you shouldn't miss out on if you ever visit Iceland.

[@nigeladams8321]

Hey Tom, I know this videos 2 years old but I saw the title I thought you would find this neat. There is a power plant in Clinton Illinois that's cooled by a lake. it has a beach I've been to quite a bit

[@deldrinov]

"Iceland is bit wet" says a Brit. I am concerned.

[@Mastermind12358]

As someone who is from Iceland, I spent few weeks in Britain and didn't find it wet at all.

[@user-sk3cz4zc4q]

Mastermind12358 WHAT

[@apexkonchu2234]

@@user-sk3cz4zc4q It doesn't rain in Britain anywhere near as much as Americans seem to think it does.

[@user-sk3cz4zc4q]

Apex Konchu I live in britain your right actually

[@andrewkavanaugh6951]

Total rainfall isn't that high but it's always lightly drizzling

[@neilja1]

Fantastic info, as ever. I have to note that after my swim in the blue lagoon, as in - directly after, I lost all my toenails . they just fell off. No idea why - and they grew back normally , but by "directly" I mean that I was still there and able to speak to management and was told "it sometimes happens". I was training for ultra marathons at the time, so toenail loss wasn't unexpected, but it was weird.

[@GregoryMom]

No blood?

[@lordsiomai]

LMFAOOOOO

[@neilja1]

@@GregoryMom No, literally just detached from the nail bed. I had lost a couple already from running too far, so maybe it just accelerated the process, but that "Oh, that sometimes happens" response.... Perfectly safe, just very minerally.

[@123TeeMee]

@@neilja1 Fascinating

[@kazzam5]

that is very strange

[@erenshaw]

The unemployed friend at 2pm on a Tuesday:

[@juicyjuice671]

It's really interesting watching something like this, and comparing it to the very popular tourist lake I swum in a couple months ago that's used to cool a nuclear power plant in the US

[@allmybasketsinoneegg]

Blue Lagoon is highly recommended, at least once if you're visiting Iceland anyway. On an unrelated note, 'waste' water from Nuclear power plants *should* be safe as well. They're also using heat exchangers, so the water they dump never actually gets in direct contact with anything radioactive. This isn't an endorsement to go swimming though, at least not without a Geiger counter.

[@m00str]

If I recall it correctly, nuclear power plants use two sets of hear exchangers, one loop of water just carries the heat from one side to the other, making the resulting steam that also contains droplets of water safe.

[@Reason077]

Myvatn nature baths, near Akureyri, is even better than Blue Lagoon in my opinion. Incredible views on a clear day!

[@hubertblastinoff9001]

Plus water is actually *really* good at shielding radiation. The only bad thing is if you ingest super-heavy water as Tritium decays fast enough to be of concern but slow enough to linger around....

[@hedgehog3180]

It's safe if you do that with any power plant, that's how the district heating in Denmark works, though the water does pass through one more heat exchanger in your home so really you're two steps removed from the waste water.

[@michaelwarren2391]

@@m00str You are correct - for a pressurized water reactor - there are three loops - primary (reactor side), secondary (seam and water that runs the turbine) and the cooling loop (cools and condenses the turbine exhaust steam). This is a very simplified explanation.

[@gustavodutra8578]

This channel has the most random stuff to show ever.

[@hyreonk]

But Austin McConnell

[@elijahamgast]

But Tom makes it so tasty

[@hyreonk]

@@elijahamgast I enjoy Tom more, it's just not the most random

[@fishiepants]

This guy does a great job of explaining things

[@RayLiehm]

Tom can now add this video to the list of "times he was in Iceland at the wrong time to see a volcanic eruption".

[@dkpsyhog]

If a Brit says somewhere is a “bit wet” it’s time to put up the flood barriers

[@kylemullen1139]

In Iceland they also have ditches that are 2 meters deep and criss crossing their pastures just to get the water away from their fields.

[@Handles_arent_a_needed_feature]

Nah it's too hilly for that. More like just wear 5 rain coats

[@andymcl92]

My main memory of this was being lovely and warm whilst having a chilled drink, and looking up to see a lifeguard on a chair with a thick jacket on.

[@CED99]

The Blue Lagoon is a great place to visit!

[@sappo3550]

Just because of your Video i flew to Iceland. It was Amazing!

[@TheToneBender]

I went to the Blue Lagoon once 10 years ago on holiday and I still occasionally have massive nostalgia. Smelled like eggs though. And it was way too crowded.

[@mukrifachri]

Tom Scott is slowly moving over to Iceland... Already hooked by the equally cloudy weather and recruited by the tourism ministry I suppose XD

[@barrytschirpig9328]

You have to wonder how much rain they get when a Brit says it is a 'bit wet'

[@mukrifachri]

@@barrytschirpig9328 I'm imagining it's definitely more damp.

[@Relics]

Swimming in Power Plant wastewater: Three Arms Later:

[@Gmodfan750]

@@marias5230 r/wooosh

[@SillyFunnyDummy]

@@Gmodfan750 stfu redditor

[@revenant3678]

@@SillyFunnyDummy yea right

[@Gmodfan750]

@@SillyFunnyDummy what's so wrong about being a redditor? you're probably a redditor too

[@Thehouseoffail]

Foil arms and hog have entered the chat

[@ShiftyShiftyHL2]

Thinking back on all those days I swam next to the coal plant's waste water exit and also the intake, which was a caged in whirlpool of death.

[@tenderjerky3504]

That thumbnail is a thing of utter beauty make no mistake

[@ClemensAlive]

This is where Nuka Cola gets it's benefits from. BETHESDA: "Write that down! WRITE THAT DOWN!!!"

[@xJack30t]

Didn't expect to see you here :)

[@angryox3102]

Looked like a pool full of Nuka Cola Quantum.

[@victormize4836]

@@angryox3102 nukalurks

[@BUCCIMAIN]

@@angryox3102 It looked like it because it is

[@normhiscock352]

Another "write that down" joke. Every month it's something new and people just copy each other.

[@omaxman1]

In Iceland, word "cheap" is relative.

[@HeiligeSalbung]

They pay 4 cents per kwh. That's really cheap.

[@omaxman1]

@@HeiligeSalbung in iceland, thats free.

[@omaxman1]

@austinrover2005 come on... Really?

[@Ishsa]

@austinrover2005 that's less than half of US prices

[@georgeorwell480]

@austinrover2005 r/woooosh

[@luccag.r4782]

Here at Brazil there is some islands that are famous because the water in that region is used to cool the Angra nuclear power plant, so the water is hot.

[@quadrugue]

In Belarus people were not only swimming but also fishing in winter in power plant wastwater near Materinskoye lake. It also has Now the power plant #5 is closed. It also had open type cooling showers where many great pictures were taken.

[@ObiWahnKnobi]

I've been in the Blue Lagoon and I can attest: It's nice and relaxing and the look is quite unique. As for the marketing the story I heard was that the workers of the powerplant went swimming in the water and found it to be really nice...and then some smart people decided to market it as a spa. And yes: The earth would most likely run out of heat eventually...but it will probably be swallowed by the sun before that.

[@nickbea3443]

It's far more magical in the winter with snow on the surrounding rocks and great fog banks where you can't see anything as you swim around.

[@therobot1080]

Yea, earth loosing its geothermal heat will take a very, VERY long time

[@sageosaka]

Where does the heat end up escaping to, space? Because otherwise it's all recycled to an extent in some way or other right?

[@dazor5212]

@@sageosaka I could be wrong on a few things but I believe a little heat escapes are atmosphere into space ever so slowly

[@Beefaroni_Bert]

@@dazor5212 youd think with the sheer amount of friction in the earth constantly happening it would keep heating the planet forever.

[@andresantos8351]

Omg we spend our entire trip in Iceland trying to figure out why the corner of this lake was not frozen and we thought how lucky those ducks were to have this corner of water to swim. Thank you, more than a year after i finally feel relieved hahah

[@Theviewer100]

I live here, and honestly never questioned it once lmao

[@kardelenkoc9746]

that thumbnail must be your cutest pic. look at that pure joy in that smile 😄 ah so genuine, love it

[@becauseimbatman1391]

I visited the blue lagoon a few years ago. One thing I remember is there being signs prohibiting cameras, them selling waterproof phone covers and everyone taking pictures.

[@oddsausage1286]

I feel like Tom Scott will become the new David Attenborough

[@paradise_valley]

*youtube’s

[@mene6465]

Ella Peterson who

[@rizumikaru]

Menecreft David Attenborough is a British documentary guy who does documentaries on nature, Americans are missing out on a great guy

[@JovanLemon]

i genuinely have no idea, but googling it shows me that its probably a british thing

[@alfiepicton1339]

@@mene6465 I hope your joking...

[@brenreidy8763]

Come to Lake Anna, in Virginia. The lake gets up to like 120 degrees in certain runoff areas rom it cooling the nuclear plant nearby. It's like taking a radioactive bath. It's actually safe as can be.

[@kissoffire1]

Would be interesting for Tom to do an update, given what is happening at Blue Lagoon and the geo thermal power plant!

[@walterklingstrom7202]

What's the soonest flight to Iceland, asking for a friend

[@dcarbs2979]

Plenty of choice: 29 flights a week at Gatwick, from £40.

[@Epinardscaramel]

At the moment, it depends on where you're travelling from.

[@NESW2000]

To get into the pool is like £80 tho

[@thwales2520]

Loads of flights every week to Iceland from Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester

[@bjarkih1977]

At the moment there's a covid-19 scan on landing, about a week of quarantine, a second scan and the you can go :)

[@DavideCosmaro]

Imagine going near a nuclear power plant and you just see Tom Scott taking a bath in nuclear waters. That's the source of his power

[@unliving_ball_of_gas]

It's not nuclear?

[@R421Excelsior]

While it depends on the exact type of a power plant, it's not really possible to encounter radioactive wastewater in a nuclear plant. The water that's sprayed inside the cooling tower or in some cases is drained into a nearby river never goes anywhere near the reactor. The turbine water is heating it up in a heat exchanger.

[@DavideCosmaro]

@@R421Excelsior catch me in the nuclear reactor core eating on those uranium-235 bars like Capri suns

[@Clone-up2ge]

@@DavideCosmaro they're good for you.... i think

[@radiobiologist]

Geothermal energy is actually underground atomic energy.

[@myotiswii]

Near me in Germany, there is a waste burning facility, that doesn't directly put the wastewater in a swimming pool, but instead some of the heat is directly used to warm an outdoor swimming pool.

[@crosscheck8770]

You should check out Electric Beach on Oahu in Hawaii. Power plant pumps out loads of warm water into the ocean, many fish, turtles, and other critters swimming around.

[@Ermuggo]

"the earth is not going to run out of heat" don't jinx it

[@chaylez4102]

2020, I dare you.

[@nibblrzlynx9746]

Jynx*

[@eduardobarreto5555]

Unolock is going to sap all of the heat out of the planet's core and only Noktok: Hero of the South is going to be able to stop him.

[@quicks902]

It's just gonna get hotter

[@nibblrzlynx9746]

Jhon Krasnovskiy Jynx*

[@s8w5]

3:14 "... the ice was strong enough to safely walk on ..." Disclaimer: Tom is not an authority on whether it is safe to walk on a frozen lake.

[@Petra123231]

The lake isnt really a lake, its a pond, and its not even a meter deep

[@cocoabeanzz]

it was so much fun when it froze tho. People went ice skating on it!

[@void8617]

@@Petra123231 Tom is bad at measuring the structural integrity of ice, see his estonia trip

[@dougashby5679]

@@Petra123231 Mentioning it's not even a meter deep absolutely destroyed the heart of the original commenter because it actually does give them the qualifications to say if its safe or not that's funny af

[@etzool]

Argh, this should've been the _intro_ to the rest of the video. Super interesting, but man, more! More more more!

[@BletRam]

The part that you go swimming was great !!

[@obiblaster3913]

cant believe that this is the same guy as, two drums and a cymbal fall off a cliff

[@Asiliea]

That was one of his best videos

[@ItsAsparageese]

I'd say he's come so far, but he's always been spectacular

[@Gositi]

@@Asiliea Yes. It is legendary.

[@acek2016]

Wait, he’s the same guy??

[@astashasta1]

honestly this just doesn't compare

[@hotelmario510]

Tom Scott, five years ago: Don't swim in the Blue Lagoon in Buxton! Tom Scott, today: I went for a dip in the Blue Lagoon in Grindavik.

[@gabor6259]

You mean in Reykjavík.

[@kattkatt744]

@@gabor6259 It is actually closer to a place called Grindavik (about 10 min with car) than it is Reykjavik (about 45 min with car), but for turist purpose they say Reykjavik.

[@performa9523]

That's a mixup you don't want to make!

[@gabor6259]

@@kattkatt744 Oh, okay.

[@stockicide]

@Tailn O Wag The video he's talking about is called "The Toxic Blue Lagoon of Buxton" if you still want to watch it.

[@Dirty20]

Hearing the story about the fact you just open a window rather than turn the heating off hits hard right now, especially given we put heating on for maybe 10 minutes to feel a single blast of heat for the day. Heaitng, water and electricity should be free or at LEAST subsidised heavily.

[@fuffoon]

My boys used to swim in an old gravel pit branched to the Meusse where its warmed from the Tihange nuke plant next door. Folks would fish where the effluent and river met. Not many bites but you could look down and see the largest fish in the river just hanging out. The year round excessive food supply from the warmth makes it a special place for oversized fish.

[@yyaoming]

3:14 "Just so the ducks have somewhere to swim" Can't believe the heat made it's way to my heart from there..