Tepco runnng out of space for radioactive water: it’s to be dumped in Pacific Ocean

‘‘Shock’: Water underneath Fukushima reactors to be dumped in ocean — Attempts to deal with problem have ‘failed’ — Officials: It’s better than radioactive substances just “spilling directly into the ocean” like it is now (VIDEO) nenews.com/shock-water-fukushima-reactors-be-dumped-ocean-attempts-deal-problem-failed-officials-better-allowing-contamination-spill-directly-ocean-like-video?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ENENews+%28Energy+News%29

AFP, Aug. 7, 2014 (emphasis added): Tepco ‘running out of space’ for tainted water — [Tepco] on Thursday unveiled a plan to dump scrubbed water directly into the ocean, sparking concerns over whether it would be properly decontaminated. […] {Tepco] has admitted that it’s running out of space. It is also fighting to contain contaminated groundwater around the plant from seeping into the ocean […] [Tepco] said it now wants to start pumping out the underground water, purify it […] and then release it […] the firm has long faced criticism over delays in disclosing key information […]

NHK, Aug. 6, 2014: Highly radioactive water […] is seeping into the earth and mixing with ground water. Experts estimate around 200 [or 400] tons of contaminated ground water are leaking into the ocean each day. [Tepco wants] to decontaminate ground water collected at wells near reactor buildings before releasing it into the ocean. […] They say their plan is an improvement on the current situation, as contaminated water is spilling directly into the ocean.

Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug 7, 2014: Groundwater to be pumped up from some of the subdrain pits includes high levels of tritium, a radioactive substance thatcannot be removed […] However, TEPCO believes it is possible to […] meet standards if the water is mixed in tanks with water pumped from other subdrain pits.

Kyodo, Aug 7, 2014: Tepco to collect toxic groundwater at Fukushima, dump in ocean after treatment […] it is unclear whether [the plan] will work as smoothly as expected, one of the officials admitted. […] Radioactive substances such as tritium and cesium have been detected [but] TEPCO says it aims to clean the water to a level that would do no harm to the environment, but tritium will remain untreated […]

Asahi Shimbun, Aug 7, 2014: [Tepco] wants to dump decontaminated water […] into the ocean. [TEPCO] is in talks with government ministries to pump contaminated water found around the buildings […] process it […] then release it […] “We would never consider dumping the water into the ocean unless we received the consent of local residents,” a TEPCO official said. […] it would be the first time […] for contaminated water to be dumped into the ocean after it has been purified. […] “The water close to the plant buildings is already contaminated,” the official said. “Fishermen are sure to raise objections” […]

Bloomberg, Aug 4, 2014: [E]stimates […] suggest filtering the isotope strontium out of stored water will take more time [than Tepco’s March 31, 2015 deadline.] Strontium has been linked to leukemia and can enter the food chain […] Delays in the cleanup could extend a South Korean ban on Japanese seafood imports […] Michael Friedlander, a former nuclear engineer [said] “They’re basically accumulating vast quantities of radioactive material that isn’t in control” […] Corrosion has delayed full use of a filtration system known as ALPS […] Tepco said aplan to divert groundwater into the sea […] has so far failed […]

NHK, Aug. 7, 2014: [TEPCO] is running a so-called bypass system […] But groundwater continues to flow into the reactors’ buildings and become contaminated. Part of it is believed to be seeping into the nearby Pacific Ocean. […] In the closed-door meeting, the officials are said to have explained that they plan to collect contaminated groundwater both at wells near reactor buildings and […] a coastal embankment. […] Fisheries association head Hiroyuki Sato told reporters that fishermen were shocked to hear that the measure is needed […]

Watch NHK’s broadcast here

August 12, 2014 - Posted by Christina MacPherson | Fukushima 2014, Japan, oceans