Groundwater at Fukushima nuclear plant has record levels of cesium

samples of water tested contained radioactive cesium at levels never seen before by the embattled utility.

Radioactive cesium levels “never seen before” at Fukushima — New record as amount in groundwater nearly doubles in 24 hours — Officials admit ‘may be new leak’ — IAEA urges ‘resumption’ of dumping contaminated water in ocean; ‘All options’ need to be on table (VIDEO) http://enenews.com/radioactive-cesium-spikes-over-past-24-hours-to-new-record-high-officials-admit-there-may-be-a-new-leak-iaea-urging-for-resumption-of-dumping-contaminated-water-into-ocean-all-options

AFP, Feb. 13, 2014: Fukushima should eye ‘controlled discharges’ in sea: IAEA — The [IAEA] urged Japan to consider “controlled discharges” into the sea of contaminated water […] “This would require considering all options, including the possible resumption of controlled discharges to the sea.” […] local fishermen, neighbouring countries and environmental groups all oppose the idea. […] radioactive groundwater […] leaking into the ocean [is] an ongoing problem that has stoked fears about dangers posed to marine life and the food chain. […]

Shanghai Daily, Feb. 13, 2014: TEPCO is still eyeing dumping toxic water into the Pacific Ocean as it fails to contain in makeshift storage tanks […] a massive daily influx of water needed to cool the battered reactors, while nuclear experts believe that other methods need to be traversed before contaminating the ocean. Dumping radioactive water into the ocean is of grave concern to local fisheries cooperatives as the potential for radioactive materials to spread to marine life remains a distinct possibility […] NRA Chairman Shunichi Tanaka […] said […] TEPCO is still utterly inept when it comes to taking accurate readings of radioactivity […] and “lacks a basic understanding of measuring and handling radiation.”

NHK,, Feb. 14, 2014: IAEA: Consider discharging contaminated water — [The IAEA] advised [Tepco] to examine all options to treat contaminated water. These include resuming controlled discharges of radioactive water into the sea. […] [IAEA’s Juan Carlos Lentijo says] the situation remains very complex [and requires] considering all options, including the possible resumption of controlled discharges to the sea.

Xinhua, Feb. 13, 2014: [TEPCO] said Thursday that samples of water tested contained radioactive cesium at levels never seen before by the embattled utility. TEPCO [is] admitting there may be a new leak at the site of a well located just 50 meters from the adjacent Pacific […] [It] failed to locate the source of the leak, in another major failing […]
Tepco Handout, February 13, 2014: “The highest dose among the results previously announced” — Underground water at 130,000 Bq/L of Cs-134, 137. Previous record set Feb. 12 with 76,000 Bq/L of Cs-134, 137.

From Yesterday: Update from NHK: “Record cesium level” in groundwater at Fukushima — 30,000 times higher than nearby well sampled last week — 50 meters from ocean (VIDEO)

Watch NHK’s broadcast here