This work presents the contribution of the Argonauta research reactor in the education and training of human resources in Nuclear Sciences. Since 1965, the Argonauta reactor, located at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, has been offering theoretical and experimental classes to undergraduate and graduate students. Nuclear Physics and Reactor Physics are the major areas included in the classes provided by the Argonauta’s staff. Recently, Radiochemical classes were integrated in the program. The Argonauta reactor showed to provide substantial contributions to training and formation in the nuclear domain besides improving its capacity to develop know-how in the areas of Nuclear Science.

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Different parameters should be monitored at a nuclear facility. Among them, water used in a nuclear reactor must meet strict specifications. The research reactor Argonauta, located in Rio de Janeiro, uses light water as both moderator and coolant. Quality control is the set of measurements to ensure, at any time, products that meet the parameters and standards in force. Then, the quality control of Argonauta’s water encompasses physical-chemical and radiological tests that are performed periodically to monitor deviations in the water parameters specification. These tests include the measurement of pH, conductivity, and gamma spectroscopy. By means of these tests, it is possible to evaluate if the quality parameters of this water meet the requirements defined by the reactor manufacturer and the Radiation Protection standards.  In this way, the safe operation of the Argonauta is guaranteed, besides avoiding unwanted exposures of operators and the environment to the ionizing radiation. This work presents the detailed assays performed in the water quality control. In addition, the obtained results in the last year measurements and highlights of the improvements to be done are also addressed. Moreover, a comparison among other research reactors in Brazil concerning this monitoring is presented. The obtained results indicate that pH, conductivity, and radiological parameters meet the established limits.

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