Fukushima dumps first mountain of once-radioactive water in sea

The operator of the Fukushima on Monday in Japan started releasing formerly radioactive groundwater to the ocean in the crippled nuclear plant, saying a filtration procedure had made the discharge safe.

It (Other OTC: ITGL – news) was the very first time the plant, whose reactors endured collapses following an enormous tsunami in 2011, had discharged filtered water to the ocean after a years-long conflict with fishermen, who worried it could ruin their support.

TEPCO said the water was safe as it is often filtered through its Innovative Liquid Processing System, which removes highly radioactive materials like strontium and caesium but makes in the tritium that was dangerous.

Fishermen had claimed that contaminant worries would heighten and damage their already battered reputation. However they finally bowed to pressure from TEPCO, which will be desperate for room to keep water that was tainted.

“We’ve supported this subterranean water contains contaminants as it provides rainwater that is subjected to debris in the site.

Monday’s move is a landmark for the business, which is fighting to manage some 300 tons of water that is filthy it is taking out in the earth daily. Formerly it was only added to enormous tanks on site.

TEPCO discharged it to the ocean to prevent it becoming contaminated and has also formerly pumped clean water in the bottom.

But it’s yet to find a solution to take care of the other 680,000 short tons of highly radioactive water kept on
Local fishermen have not consented to any discharge of water accumulated in the reactor buildings after it’s filtered.

Decommissioning of the crippled Fukushima reactors is likely to take decades. The settlement statement for residents — excluding the price of the clean-up in the site top $57 billion.