Japan set to treat nuclear water
Source: Agencies |
June 17, 2011, Friday
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Print Edition
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THE operator of Japan's tsunami-hit nuclear plant made final preparations yesterday to launch a crucial system to treat highly radioactive water that has hampered efforts to achieve the primary goal of cooling and stabilizing the damaged reactors.
More than 100,000 tons of radioactive water have pooled across the Fukushima Dai-ichi power plant, and it could overflow within a couple of weeks if action is not taken. Operator Tokyo Electric Power Co said workers yesterday made final tests on a treatment system ahead of full operation planned for today. In test runs earlier this week using highly radioactive water kept temporarily in tanks, the machines successfully reduced cesium to about one-10,000th of the earlier levels, TEPCO said.
Three reactor cores had melted after the March 11 tsunami destroyed both power and backup generators, knocking out critical cooling systems. Fresh water pumped into the reactors becomes contaminated and goes right through the damaged cores, seeping into reactor and turbine basements, utility pits and other parts of the plant.
Some radioactive water has leaked into the ocean, causing concerns about contamination of seafood. The leakage stopped after the operator sealed cracks, built oil fences around the coastal plant and took other steps.
More than 100,000 tons of radioactive water have pooled across the Fukushima Dai-ichi power plant, and it could overflow within a couple of weeks if action is not taken. Operator Tokyo Electric Power Co said workers yesterday made final tests on a treatment system ahead of full operation planned for today. In test runs earlier this week using highly radioactive water kept temporarily in tanks, the machines successfully reduced cesium to about one-10,000th of the earlier levels, TEPCO said.
Three reactor cores had melted after the March 11 tsunami destroyed both power and backup generators, knocking out critical cooling systems. Fresh water pumped into the reactors becomes contaminated and goes right through the damaged cores, seeping into reactor and turbine basements, utility pits and other parts of the plant.
Some radioactive water has leaked into the ocean, causing concerns about contamination of seafood. The leakage stopped after the operator sealed cracks, built oil fences around the coastal plant and took other steps.
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