Detection of Radionuclides in Japan's Third Discharge of Contaminated Water... TEPCO Says "Below Standard Levels"

A group of tanks used to store and measure the radioactivity concentration of the treated contaminated water from the Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS) at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant before discharge.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) of Japan has detected trace amounts of radioactive nuclides in samples of contaminated water scheduled for the third discharge from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. TEPCO explained that the levels are below the standard limits.

TEPCO announced on the 19th that analysis of samples taken on July 10 from measurement and verification tank group A, which contains the contaminated water for the third discharge, revealed the presence of some radioactive nuclides.

The radioactive nuclides identified in the samples include carbon-14, cobalt-60, strontium-90, iodine-129, and cesium-137. Among these, strontium-90 was not included in the contaminated water discharged during the second release, which began on the 5th.

TEPCO stated that measurements taken by both the company and external organizations were all below the officially announced concentration limits, meeting the discharge standards.

The concentration of tritium, which is not removed even after passing through the Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS), was found to be 130,000 becquerels (Bq) per liter. TEPCO’s standard limit is 1,000,000 Bq.

TEPCO dilutes the contaminated water with a large volume of seawater before discharging it into the sea in front of the nuclear power plant. The measurement and verification tanks are facilities used to analyze and store purified contaminated water before discharge.

Previously, TEPCO completed the discharge from measurement and verification tank group B from August 24 to the 11th of last month. The company plans to release the water stored in group C into the sea by the 23rd.

After the completion of the second discharge, TEPCO will begin preparations for the third discharge. The discharge volumes for the first to third releases are approximately 7,800 tons each.