Bags of Radioactive waste spilled after torrential rain.
First thing that came to mind was “how would those radioactive waste filled bags hold during yesterday’s torrential rain in Ibaraki, Tochigi and Fukushima which forced thousands and thousands to evacuate?” . Predictable answer is “they did not”!
Exhibit A; The village of Iitate Mura, Fukushima
Under the influence of heavy rain the river bed overflown and spilled and shredded bags of temporarily stored radioactive waste (tainted grass, soil and other radioactive substances removed during decontamination).
There were several places in Fukushima where radioactive waste was spilled, but so far, the most hit place is Sekizawa. It is reported there are unidentified number of similar black bags are scattered around at multiple locations like this one. And each bag contains radioactivity of 0.5 to 1 μSv/hour.
For years these bags have been piling up, in open air, often abandoned on the side of roads or hidden in a forest nearby. There are hundreds of sites hosting this dangerous material in those three prefectures. Most of the bags are starting to deteriorate as they are meant to last up 2 to 3 years only. But yet again, the government keeps on ignoring even the simplest of predictable outcomes – such as heavy rains from a Japanese trademark; Typhoons. We know that, most of the population knows that – but the government keeps on turning a blind eye and mixing up priorities. Securing these radioactive bags should have come before the Olympics. So much shame and laziness of the mind
Entire homes and cars were carried away on the torrent as the Kinugawa River burst its banks after two days of heavy rainfall.
In Tochigi, more than 500mm (19 inches) of rain fell in 24 hours in places, according to local public broadcaster NHK, which said that was about double what normally falls there throughout the whole of September.
Parts of central Tochigi have seen almost 60cm of rain since Monday evening, breaking records.
Many other areas of eastern and north-eastern Japan have also been issued weather warnings, including Fukushima prefecture, home to the still-damaged nuclear plant hit in 2011’s earthquake and tsunami.
The downpour overwhelmed the site’s drainage pumps, a spokesman for operator Tokyo Electric Power (Tepco) said. Huge volumes of water, used to cool the plant’s crippled reactors, are being stored at the site.
Source:Evacuate Fukushima
http://www.evacuate-fukushima.com/2015/09/bags-of-radioactive-waste-spilled-after-torrential-rain/
82 Contaminated Waste Bags From Fukushima Washed Away By Typhoon Flood
At least 82 bags filled with contaminated material from the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant have been swept away by flood water as typhoon Etau hit Japan, officials said. TEPCO said rainwater from the nuclear plant has been leaking into the Pacific.
Flooding caused by Tropical Typhoon Etau has swept at least 82 bags suspected to contain radioactive grass and other contaminated materials that had been collected at the site of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant (NPP).
They had been stored in a nearby town in the same prefecture, the Environment Ministry said on Friday, according to local media. Though the Ministry went on to say that most of the bags had been recovered undamaged, local media reported that only 30 of the bags had been found.
Officials said the flooding had not reached the nuclear reactors damaged in the 2011 disaster, when the NPP was hit by a tsunami that had been caused by an earthquake. The nuclear disaster at Fukushima, which took place over four years ago, was dubbed the worst since the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear accident.
Earlier on Friday, Tokyo Electric Power CO. (TEPCO), the company in charge of the damaged NPP, said that one of the holding tanks on the premises of the plant has been leaking drainage rainwater into the ocean. Later in the day, TEPCO said the leakage had been stopped. According to the company’s website, there have been several similar cases in recent days.
“On September 9th and 11th, due to typhoon no.18 (Etau), heavy rain caused Fukushima Daiichi K drainage rainwater to overflow to the sea,” TEPCO said, adding that the samples taken on Wednesday “show safe, low levels” of radiation.
“From the sampling result of the 9th, TEPCO concluded that slightly tainted rainwater had overflowed to the sea; however, the new sampling measurement results show no impact to the ocean,” it continued.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga warned that the rainwater drenching the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant could flow into the Pacific Ocean, the Japan Times reported on Friday. However, he told reporters that the radiation level of such rainwater would be “sufficiently below” the legally permitted level.
TEPCO said on Friday it will continue to monitor the ocean to “ensure the water quality” and has taken “multiple precautionary measures” to protect the ocean water nearby.
Tens of thousands of Japanese people were ordered to leave their homes across the country as typhoon Etau hit Japan this week. The flooding resulting from the torrential rains has been dubbed the worst in 50 years. As a result, three people have been killed, 27 injured and 26 are still missing across Japan.
Meanwhile, Japan officially restarted the No. 1 reactor of the Sendai nuclear power plant for the first time in two years on Thursday. The reactor resumed commercial operations after receiving the approval of the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA). Kyushu Electric Power Co., the operator of the Sendai plant, plans to launch the plant’s No. 1 reactor in mid-October.
After the disaster at Fukushima on March 11, all nuclear reactors in Japan were shut down. Due to electricity shortages, two reactors at Kansai Electric Power’s Oi plant in the Fukui Prefecture were temporarily restarted. However, they were taken offline again in September 2013.
Source: RT
http://www.rt.com/news/315098-radiadion-fukushima-waste-leak/
Typhoon Etau flooded Fukushima Daiichi
Heavy rains in north eastern Japan have caused flooding at Fukushima Daiichi. Rivers in the region have flooded and a number of nearby towns have declared flood alerts. JMA reported flooding in Tomioka and Futaba near the plant. While TEPCO has not released a clear report on ongoing problems at the plant, bits of information came out in the routine reporting.
K drainage, one of the existing rainwater drainage systems known to transport contaminated runoff out of the plant over topped its containment system. Contaminated water reached the open ocean. Radiation levels recorded on the 9th showed moderately contaminated water was leaking.
K drainage as of the 9th
130 bq/liter c134
550 bq/liter c137
970 bq/liter beta
TEPCO did announce that they were now diverting K drainage water into the C drainage control system.
“※ camera for drainage of K drainage is, by providing a weir at the same drainage channel, we have established a transfer pump but has been transferred to the C drainage channel leading to the harbor within, September 9, which was placed in a K drainage After a review of the video, due to the influence of rainfall, over the rainwater weir between 0:28 minutes to 2:34 and 3:58 minutes to 4:24, it is drainage part to the open ocean side Make sure. After that, all rainwater K drainage channel is transferred to C drainage, no drainage to the open ocean. “
The B&C drainage systems at the plant were closed due to leaks at the H5 tank farm on the 9th. This system is known to transport contaminated soil and debris to the open ocean if the system is left open during spills or heavy rain events. TEPCO has not said if they have been able to successfully deal with the volume of water that flows out of this system.
Unit 1 work was suspended due to weather on the 9th.
The C tank farm has seen rain water leak out of the weir for this tank group. Water was being pumped out of the weir to prevent further leakage. Radiation readings for the leaking water were reported by TEPCO.
C plant (C East area and West area C) outside analysis of rainwater in the Weir
< Stormwater C East in the Weir area>
• Cesium–134: detection limits (0.59 Bq/L) less than
And cesium–137: detection limits (0.71 Bq/L) less than
–All beta: 30 Bq/L
< C West area in the Weir in rainwater>
• Cesium–134: detection limits (0.60 Bq/L) less than
And cesium–137: detection limits (0.72 Bq/L) less than
–All beta: 25 Bq/L
< C plant outside in rainwater>
• Cesium–134: detection limit value (0.70 Bq/L) less than
• Cesium 137:1.1 Bq/L
–All beta: 44 Bq/L
Fukushima leaks radioactive water after Typhoon Etau busts drainage system
Typhoon Etau brought lashing rains, floods and storm winds to Japan. Tens of thousands of Japanese people have been ordered to leave their homes across the country.
Tokyo Electric Power CO. (TEPCO) informed the public today that hundreds of tons of radioactive water had leaked from the facility, but maintained that the incident posed no risk to the environment. Large quantities of contaminated water need to be stored in special reservoirs that were used to cool melted fuel rods from reactors at the TEPCO site, which was damaged by the earthquake and tsunami of 2011.
TEPCO had acknowledged the risk of the typhoon to the nuclear site on Tuesday, outlining the preventative measures it was taking.
“For heavy rains, TEPCO has standard procedures to install
rainwater guttering on the upper part of the water storage tanks and also to construct dikes around groups of tanks, which is applied to all of the recently added storage tanks,” said the statement adding that “the drainage systems on the premises are most active during heavy rains to keep the site from flooding.”
Despite Tuesday’s statements asserting that the drainage system would protect the nuclear plant station and the operator company was ready to face the typhoon, today’s announcement would imply that TEPCO’s efforts weren’t enough
To deal with the new leaks, TEPCO said on Thursday that it was sealing off the seaside of the nuclear plant with an “impermeable wall” which would “play a crucial role” in preventing contaminated groundwater from reaching the ocean.
To deal with the new leaks, TEPCO said on Thursday that it was sealing off the seaside of the nuclear plant with an “impermeable wall” which would “play a crucial role” in preventing contaminated groundwater from reaching the ocean.
Source: RT
Japan: Typhoon Etau floods send hundreds of tonnes of contaminated Fukushima water into ocean
Flooding caused by Typhoon Etau has sent hundreds of tonnes of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the ocean, a Tokyo Electric Power (Tepco) spokesperson said. Rain overwhelmed the site’s drainage pumps, they added.
Tepco is storing massive quantities of contaminated water that was used to cool melted fuel in the reactors damaged by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that devastated the site. In a statement regarding Typhoon Etau earlier in September, the company said the site was at risk from the storm.
“Typhoon No.18 (Etau) is expected to approach the central area of Japan’s honshu island and could affect Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station as well in the next few days,” it said. “To prepare for the heavy winds, the crane necks are lowered and all the equipment is secured with ropes and covers onsite as standard procedure for construction sites.
“For heavy rains, Tepco has standard procedures to install rainwater guttering on the upper part of the water storage tanks and also to construct dikes around groups of tanks, which is applied to all of the recently added storage tanks.”
Japan’s Meteorological Agency said large parts of the country remains either on a warning or emergency warning for severe weather, with Tochigi and Ibaraki at greatest risk. Fukushima prefecture, to the north of both Tochigi and Ibaraki, is at risk of heavy rain, with ground-loosening and inundation possible.
Etau has led to devastating floods in Japan, with several people reported missing and water levels at waist height in some areas. “This is a scale of downpour that we have not experienced before. Grave danger could be imminent,” forecaster Takuya Deshimaru said at an emergency press conference.
Nasa satellite images showed the storm as it moved across central Japan. The intense rainfall moved northwards over the main island of Honshu, with almost 12in of rain reported. The storm has now weakened and moved over the Sea of Japan, where it is expected to dissipate, but rain has continued to hit the country.
Tens of thousands of people have had to leave their homes, with dramatic footage showing floods sweeping away buildings and cars. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said officials are working hard to rescue people and aid those effected: He added: “The government will stand united and do its best to deal with the disaster… by putting its highest priority on people’s lives.”
Source: International Business Times
Another Fukushima worker died / No media coverage
On 9/9/2015, another Fukushima worker found dead, according to Tepco.
3 workers died in August. (cf, August’s 3rd worker died in Fukushima plant after the work of retained contaminated water beside Reactor 1 [URL])
At 12:45 of 9/9/2015, the subcontract worker was found losing consciousness in the toilet of entry-management building of Fukushima plant. The worker was to be in cardiopulmonary arrest state aprox. 10 minutes later.
At 15:10 of the day, the worker was confirmed to be dead at Iwaki Kyouritsu Hospital.
Any identity has not been disclosed about this worker. The dose level is not reported either.
At this moment, none of the mass media has covered this for some reason.
http://www.tepco.co.jp/nu/fukushima-np/handouts/2015/images/handouts_150909_13-j.pdf
http://www.tepco.co.jp/nu-news/2015/1259686_6869.html
Source: Fukushima Daiichi
Fukushima Sensationalism and Hoaxes
During the past years and half following the ongoing Fukushima catastrophe I have said it repeatedly many times:
1. Sensationalism discredit the real gravity of the situation in Fukushima and of the living conditions of the Fukushima victims, it also discredits all the serious Fukushima Watchers and our anti-nuclear cause.
2. It is an insult to truth and to the real victims on location in Fukushima.
3. Fukushima and nuclear do not need any exageration, sensationalism, the plain truth as it is, is terrible, horrible enough.
4. Only by spreading the truth, the true facts we can mark solid points against the cover-up of the nuclear lobby and its servile media, only with truth and true facts we can help the Fukushima victims situation to be known, exposed and get them the help they rightfully deserve.
5. Therefore we should oppose both the nuke shills who minimize the truth about Fukushima and nuclear, and the sensationalists who discredit the Fukushima cause to the eyes of the general public with their wild lies about Fukushima.
For four years and half, I have been sharing, circulating information on internet thru 3 blogs and on Facebook on a few groups and pages.
I have chosen up to now to ignore the rotten apples, but I cannot keep silent anymore when I do witness the harm they are doing to the Fukushima cause and to the anti-nuclear cause with their sensationalism, their repetitive hoaxes, their lack of integrity, of responsibility, their sensationalizing of Fukushima to draw attention so as to milk donations from good people but alas gullible not well informed.
The typical example of those few Youtubers sensationalizing Fukushima for self profit, transforming the Fukushima issue into a personal con-game is a man named Kevin Blanch.
For example last year Kevin Blanch made a video announcing that the spent fuel pool of the reactor 4 at the Nuclear plant of Fukushima Daiichi was on fire and had exploded, that the whole U.S. would be fried by the radiation plume released from that fire and explosion within few days, causing a panic and fear in numbers of people. Of course it was just bull. Another hoax of his, among his countless other lies and hoaxes.
His latest hoax, this year, on August 2015, after Japan restarted its first reactor at Sendai in Southern Japan on Kyushu Islnd, he took advantage of people’s attention about that restart to announce suddenly that that reactor was having a meltdown. Of course, not basis whatsover for his claim, just another made-up hoax of his. Multiple hoaxes for which during the past 4 years and half he never even once apologized , once those hoaxes in due time were debunked one after the other. Totally unrepentant, and always keeping on doing it.
That scoundrel is making a living from making sensationalism videos about Fukushima on Youtube, full of exaggerations, hyperboles, plain lies, hoaxes, promoting his self-importancy with the sole intent to fool the people about his pretended activism so as to milk donations from them, thus making Fukushima his personal lucrative con-game.
I feel sorry for the gullible people that he fools, that he takes advantage of, most of those people certainly well meaning and good hearted. But If only them I would not interfere with his con-game and his preys.
But people like him are robbing those donations from the people who really need it and who really deserve it : The real victims and the real activists on location doing the real job, helping the victims, organizing radiation measuring networks to measure the environment and the foods & beverages of the communities, providing measuring instruments to communities on locations, etc… The people who are crowdfunding, organizing health recovering spring and summer camps outside of Fukushima for the children of Fukushima in Japan or Hawaii, or in Australia or in various European countries, so that the Fukushima children may leave their daily contaminated environment to replenish their health for a few weeks in a non contaminated environment, to eat also there non-contaminated foods for a few weeks. Those times out are very crucial for the health of those children, for them to be ble to detox their young vulnerable organism, as it was proven before with the children of chernobyl by numerous studies.
Those few people like him on Youtube are not well-meaning citizens wishing to expose the Fukushima situation, to circulate the informations which are not well circulated by the mainstream media due to the nuclear lobby influence and its financial associates, such people are riding the Fukushima catastrophe, as vultures, to the detriment of the real victims and to the detriment of truth, for their own ego and greed.
Please people, don’t be victimized by con-men and their glib jive lies.
Spare your donations to help the real victims, and to help the real activists present on location to help the Fukushima victims.
From the father of a Fukushima girl.
Best wishes to you all.
Cs-134/137 density of plant port water keeps increasing since last week
Cs-134/137 density reached the highest level at 2 of those 4 points mentioned above, according to Tepco. The sampling date was 9/7/2015.
These 2 points are in front of water intakes of Reactor 1 and Reactor 2. Both of them are outside of underground wall to prove high level of contamination is still leaking to the sea.
Also, Cs-134/137 density in the south of these 2 points reached the highest level. This is also outside of the underground wall, but the density went up approx. 170 % of the previous highest reading. The newly highest Cs-134/137 density was 152,000 Bq/m3.
http://www.tepco.co.jp/nu/fukushima-np/f1/smp/2015/images/2tb-east_15090801-j.pdf
Source: Fukushima Diary
Cs-134/137 density of plant port water keeps increasing since last week
Third ceiling panel removed from Fukushima reactor
Workers at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant have removed half of the ceiling panels covering a damaged reactor building. The work is part of efforts to decommission the facility.
The No.1 reactor building was heavily damaged by a hydrogen explosion during the 2011 meltdown. Tokyo Electric Power Company installed a cover around it to prevent the spread of radioactive material.
The utility is now removing the cover so it can clean up debris inside the facility. Two of the 6 ceiling panels that make up the cover were removed between late July and early August.
The utility then halted the work to monitor radiation levels and check the conditions of the debris. Since no abnormalities were found, workers removed a 3rd panel on Tuesday using a remote-controlled crane.
TEPCO says there’s been no change in radiation levels around the reactor buildings. It says measurements taken before the work on Tuesday showed that wind blowing inside the cover was weaker than expected.
The utility plans to finish dismantling the cover by around late next year.
Source: NHK
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20150908_21.html
Groundwater to be released into the sea on Monday
The operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant plans to start releasing groundwater from around reactor buildings into the sea next Monday.
The government and the operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company, are to formally decide on the discharge date on Wednesday. The water has already been decontaminated.
Officials hope the move will help to curb the accumulation of radioactive wastewater in the reactor buildings. The contaminated water is increasing at a rate of 300 tons a day as the groundwater flows in.
The officials plan to first release some 4,000 tons of water pumped up from the wells around the buildings on a trial basis since August last year.
They say they will continue to pump up water and release it after removing radioactive materials.
Later this week, the utility also plans to resume the construction of steel walls along the coast to stop the groundwater seeping directly into the sea.
The construction work has been suspended until the release of the groundwater becomes possible.
Source: NHK
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20150909_05.html
Overflowing from a Drainage Ditch into the Sea
Contaminated rain water overflowing from a drainage ditch into the sea at Fukushima Daiichi on September 7, 2015.
毎日新聞映像グループ
“Tainted Water Flows Into Sea For Sixth Time From Fukushima No. 1” : Wow, 6 times only? Do you believe this?
Tokyo Electric Power Co. said rainwater contaminated with radioactive substances flowed Monday into the Pacific Ocean from the Fukushima No. 1 power plant through a drainage ditch.
This is the sixth time that radioactive water has made its way into the sea from the plant, which was heavily damaged in the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
Tepco had raised the height of the weir in the ditch’s outlet from 70 cm to 85 cm, but it failed to prevent the latest outflow.
It occurred between 2:55 a.m. and 4 a.m., according to Tepco. The amount of outflow and the level of water contamination was unknown as of Monday evening.
Rainwater in the drainage ditch was to be transferred by pumps to a separate ditch leading to the plant’s port. Although eight pumps were operating at full capacity from 2:51 a.m., they were unable to catch up with the accumulation of rainwater due to heavy rain, allowing contaminated water to flow over the weir, Tepco said.
The company plans to complete its work by the end of March to close the drainage ditch’s outlet and make a new one inside the plant’s port.
Source: Japan Times
Tepco Dumps Radioactive Water in Ocean To SAVE Ocean
Tepco Dumps 10,000 Bq Per Liter Tritium Ocean Release Ice wall 2015 https://youtu.be/0fP6iV0_47s
TEPCO releases statement saying they will pump up highly contaminated groundwater for release into the sea. Tepco will constantly check measurements while releasing minimally treated radioactive water into the ocean. The WHO standard says 10,000 BQ of “Tritium” Per Liter is OK. Tritium cannot be filtered or distilled. Half life like 12.5 years could be around 300 years to go back to barely detectable levels. It’s doubtful the Ice wall will ever create a seal to contain radioactivity.
Music: https://youtu.be/31Y103Q1lZs
Not to mention the tanks are not seismicly qualified and are only expected to last a short time. Many have already been leaking. They are running out of physical space to install more and more tanks.
Fukushima Daiichi NPS Prompt Report 2015
Fukushima Daiichi NPS Prompt Report (Sep 02,2015)
Recent topics: SUBDRAIN & GROUNDWATER DRAIN OPERATIONS SET TO BEGIN AT FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI, SHOULD LEAD TO FURTHER PROTECTION OF THE OCEAN
http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/press/corp-…
For more information about the operation of the subdrain and groundwater drain: http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/decommision…
For more information on the seaside impermeable wall: http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/decommision…
For more information on the landside impermeable wall (frozen soil wall): http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/decommision…
-The upper limit of radioactive concentration for Subdrain and Groundwater Drain:
Cs-134 1Bq/L, Cs-137 1Bq/L, Gross 3Bq/L, Tritium 1,500Bq/L
-(Reference 1) The upper limit of radioactive concentration for Groundwater Bypass:
Cs-134 1Bq/L, Cs-137 1Bq/L, Gross 5Bq/L, Tritium 1,500Bq/L
-(Reference 2) WHO Guideline for Drinking-Water Quality:
Cs-134 10Bq/L, Cs-137 10Bq/L, Gross 10Bq/L, Tritium 10,000Bq/L
Prof. Chris Busby at the European Parliament 2013 Radiation Risk ECRR vs. ICRP https://youtu.be/0jG4ePcUzqI
* ECRR-MODEL VS. ICRP *
The existentiality of the lawfuly acceptable amount of radionuclides in the environment is the core question for all life on Earth. This question is scientifically formulated as the intelectual battle between two scientific models on the risk of the radioactivity, the acceptable levels of radionuclides in the environment. The presently by the governments used ICRP-model, by the experts of this website is found guilty to be the cause of ongoing genetical annihilation of all life forms as it underestimates the risks thousands of times. The ECRR-model is suggested to be used.
ECRR-model http://www.euradcom.org
Recommendations of the ECRR http://www.euradcom.org/2011/ecrr2010…
ICRP-model http://www.icrp.org
Analyses of the ICRP model http://irpa11.irpa.net/pdfs/3a35.pdf
Enjoy the scientific battle of both directors of the two Radiation Risk models — J. Valentin and C. Busby, 22.03.2009, Stockholm
The recently resigned Scientific Secretary of the ICRP, Dr Jack Valentin , concedes to Pr. Chris Busby (ECRR) that the ICRP model can not be used to predict the health effects of exposures and that for certain internal exposures it is insecure by up to two orders of magnitude.
He also says that as he was no longer employed by ICRP he could agree that the ICRP and the United Nations committee on radiation protection (UNSCEAR) had been wrong in not examining the evidence from the Chernobyl accident and other evidence which shows large errors in the ICRP risk model.
Nearly 700,000 tons of radioactive water stored at Fukushima plant
OKUMA, Fukushima Prefecture–Almost 700,000 tons of radiation-contaminated water have accumulated at the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, Tokyo Electric Power Co. disclosed Sept. 4.
The water is stored in rows of massive tanks on the plant’s premises.
Contaminated water has been a persistent problem since the 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster triggered a triple meltdown at the plant, resulting in a vast amount of radiation being spewed from the facility.
Each day, about 300 tons of groundwater still seeps into the basements of the reactor buildings, where it mixes with melted nuclear fuel and becomes highly contaminated, the utility officials said.
The storage tanks TEPCO has constructed to store the water are 10 meters tall and positioned on the inland, and not seaward, side of the reactor buildings.
The plant operator said it had lowered the radiation level of a large portion of the contaminated water using a multinuclide removal apparatus called ALPS (advanced liquid processing system) and other equipment.
The utility completed processing the most highly contaminated water stored in tanks by the end of May.
TEPCO has also worked to replace flange-type bolted storage tanks that are susceptible to leakage with welded tanks to reduce the risk of accidental seepage.
To intercept clean groundwater before it flows into contaminated reactor buildings, TEPCO started a “subdrain plan” Sept. 3 to pump tons of groundwater from “subdrain wells” before it reaches the contaminated reactor buildings each day. The water will be released into the sea after undergoing decontamination treatment
Source: Asahi Shimbun
http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311disaster/fukushima/AJ201509050017
Fukushima Daiichi drainage system enters operation
The flow of groundwater into the reactor buildings and port area of the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan should be significantly reduced with the start of use of a new system to pump, treat, test and discharge the water.
The subdrain system is a group of 41 wells installed in the vicinity of the reactor and turbine buildings. Pumped up by the subdrain, the amount of groundwater flowing into the buildings is expected to be significantly reduced. The groundwater flowing into the port area is held back by the coastal impermeable wall and pumped up by another group of wells, the groundwater drain system, installed in the bank protection area.
Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) announced the first pumping up of groundwater by 20 of the wells in the subdrain system had begun at 10.00am today.
The collected groundwater will be temporarily stored to check its quality and then discharged into the port area, with thorough treatment processes.
Tepco said it expects the water pumped up by the subdrain and groundwater drain to be slightly more contaminated than water from the existing groundwater bypass (which intercepts water on the land side of the reactor buildings). However, it said the water will be treated to meet the more stringent quality standards for the subdrain and groundwater drain than for the groundwater bypass. The company noted the water would also be monitored more frequently to verify its quality for discharge.
Once the subdrain and groundwater drain systems are found to be operating stably, the opening that was left in the seaside impermeable wall will be closed to prevent groundwater flowing into the port area, Tepco said. The subdrain and groundwater drain will then work to keep groundwater from accumulating behind the impermeable wall.
Tepco estimates the subdrain will reduce the flow of groundwater into the reactor buildings to 150 cubic meters per day from the current 300 cubic meters. In the longer term, the company said the pumping systems and seaside wall are expected to be joined with the land side impermeable wall (frozen soil wall) currently under construction, “creating a wall around the reactor buildings and further reducing the intrusion of groundwater”.
Tepco sought the approval of prefectural and national fishermen’s associations for use of the system.
Tepco’s chief decommissioning officer Naohiro Masuda said, “The activation of the subdrain system is a major milestone in redirecting fresh water from contaminated area. It also enables the seaside impermeable wall to be closed to further prevent any leakage of contaminated water.”
Source: World Nuclear News
http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/RS-Fukushima-Daiichi-drainage-system-enters-operation-0309155.html
TEPCO pumps up groundwater for release into sea
The operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant has begun pumping up groundwater from around reactor buildings with the aim of releasing it into the sea.
Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO, hopes the move will slow the accumulation of radioactive wastewater in the buildings, which is building up at a rate of 300 tons a day due to the inflow of groundwater.
The utility will target groundwater from wells dug around the No.1 through No.4 reactor buildings. It plans to filter out much of the radioactive material before releasing the water into the ocean.
Workers on Thursday began pumping up groundwater from 20 wells. They plan to remove 200 tons through the afternoon and store it in special tanks.
TEPCO has yet to reach an agreement with local authorities and fishermen about when to release the decontaminated water, but it will likely be later this month.
The utility claims the drainage will cut the amount of wastewater in the reactor buildings by about half.
But local authorities and fishermen worry about what could happen to the environment if something goes wrong.
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20150903_17.html
1 This Month
petition to oppose the rapid increase of space-military industry threatening Jeju Island and the region.
[Petition by April 19th (KST)] Stop the joint military-Hanwha Systems-Jeju Provincial Government Sea Launch!
World Nuclear Power. Reactors 1951-2026, 75 Years of Nuclear Power.
Interactive Map– https://dv.worldnuclearreport.org/
Chernobyl: The Lost Tapes – A good documentary on Chernobyl on SBS available On Demand for the next 3 weeks– https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/tv-program/chernobyl-the-lost-tapes/2352741955560
of the week–London Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
Tell the Ukrainian Government to Drop Prosecution of Peace Activist Yurii Sheliazhenko
To see nuclear-related stories in greater depth and intensity – go to https://nuclearinformation.wordpress.com
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