Reroute drainage channel to avoid leaks into sea

February 25, 2015

TEPCO may reroute wastewater drainage channel

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20150225_30.html

Feb. 25, 2015 - Updated 11:29 UTC+1

The operator of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant is considering a plan to reroute a drainage channel so that contaminated rainwater will not leak outside the facility's port.

Tokyo Electric Power Company said on Tuesday that the water had accumulated on the roof of the plant's No. 2 reactor building. The firm added that rainwater with relatively high levels of radioactive substances spilled into the Pacific beyond the plant's port through a drainage channel.

Following an outcry by local fishers, the utility said it will consider altering the channel so that water will drain in the port.

The firm is also considering a tentative plan to pump up water near the mouth of the channel and release it in the port through another channel.

TEPCO knew last April that the density of radioactive substances in the channel rose when rain fell. But it did nothing to prevent contaminated water from leaking directly out to sea, nor did it make the finding public.