Record tritium contamination in well water

October 19, 2013

High level of radioactive tritium found in Fukushima groundwater

http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20131019p2a00m0na007000c.html

A record 790,000 becquerels of radioactive tritium per liter of well water has been detected near a tank on the premises of the crippled nuclear plant in Fukushima Prefecture from which about 300 tons of highly radioactive water has leaked, its operators said.

The amount is 2.5 times the radioactivity detected on Oct. 10, which measured 320,000 becquerels, according to Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO), the operator of the tsunami-hit Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant.

Furthermore, a record 400,000 becquerels per liter of other radioactive substances that emit beta rays, such as radioactive strontium-90, have been detected in water from the observation well. TEPCO made the finding after analyzing samples taken from the well on Oct. 17.

The well is one of eight that were drilled in early September to check whether underground water on the premises of the power station is contaminated with radioactive substances, and is only 20 meters north of the tank from which highly radioactive water leaked.

TEPCO officials said workers were unable to completely remove soil contaminated with radioactive water because piping and other pump equipment lies north of the well. The well was covered with a lid.

An advanced liquid processing system (ALPS) installed at the plant does not have the capability to remove tritium from radioactively contaminated water.

As to the reason for a sharp rise in the concentration of radioactive substances, TEPCO pointed to the possibility that such substances flowed in as a result of rain brought by Typhoon Wipha, contaminating the underground water. The power company is considering removing contaminated soil and pumping up tainted underground water.