Cesium removal system stops

September 24, 2014

System to remove cesium at plant stops

Sep. 24, 2014 - Updated 11:01 UTC+2

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20140924_34.html

Apparent human error has resulted in stoppage of a system for removing cesium from radioactively contaminated water at Tokyo Electric Power Company's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.

The firm says the stoppage is thought to have resulted from mistaken closing of a pump valve. It adds that a pump for sending tainted water to the system stopped with an alarm around 8:30 AM on Wednesday. The operator later shut down the system.

Officials of the firm say the error lowered power to siphon off contaminated water, stopping the pump.

The system can treat 30 tons of tainted water per hour.

Tokyo Electric says its water treatment plan was not affected, as another system is available.

The utility says it wants to resume the halted system on Wednesday after looking into the cause of the suspected mishandling.