Arab News Japan
TOKYO: Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) recommenced the discharge of ALPS-treated water into the Pacific Ocean at its Daiichi nuclear power plant on Wednesday.
TEPCO says the Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS) “cleans” the irradiated water of most of its contamination and is safe to discharge into the sea.
“We have confirmed that analysis results of the samples taken in June at the measurement/ confirmation facility, including analysis by external agencies, have met the government’s regulatory standards,” TEPCO said.
During the discharges, TEPCO took samples from the seawater pipe every day to measure tritium concentration in order to confirm that tritium is being suitably diluted.
“As a result, we have been able to confirm that the analysis values are approximately equal to the calculated concentrations, and less than 1,500 bq/ liter,” TEPCO said. “For seawater, tritium analysis has been conducted regularly with the detection limit increased to about 10 bq/ liter, to quickly obtain tritium concentration results. As a result, we have confirmed that the analysis values are below both the discharge suspension level (700 bq/ liter) and the investigation level (350 bq/ liter).”
TEPCO is planning seven discharges during the fiscal year that will result in an annual discharge of approximately 54,600m³ of treated water and an annual tritium discharge volume of approximately 14 trillion bequerels.
“Going forward, we will remain vigilant to ensure the safe and stable discharge of ALPS-treated water,” the company said.
Some Japanese as well as foreign governments have expressed concern at the discharges. Friends of the Earth Japan have insisted that not only tritium, but also radioactive substances such as cesium-134, cesium-137, strontium-90, and iodine-129 remain in the water.
Last year, it stated: “TEPCO initially said ALPS treatment removes all radioactive materials except tritium and that concentrations in the treated water meets regulatory standards. However, the first evidence of residual nuclides other than tritium was reported by Kyodo News in 2018. Radioactive materials should be centrally managed and not released into the environment. We oppose the release into the ocean and call for the decision to be reversed.”