Contaminated water leaking outside barriers

June 4, 2014

TEPCO: Tainted water may have leaked from barriers

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20140604_41.html 

Tokyo Electric Power Company says contaminated water may have leaked from barriers surrounding storage tanks at the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

Officials from the Nuclear Regulation Authority on Monday found water leaking around 2 of the storage tanks.

The tanks contain water with radiation levels above the government-set standards.

About 4 tons of water was found in barriers surrounding the tanks. The water contained 9,800 Becquerels per liter of beta-ray emitting substances. But TEPCO officials said the leaked water had remained inside the barriers.

However, TEPCO's later investigations found that a drain valve had accidentally been left open. Regular patrols had not been conducted at the leaking tanks.

TEPCO is now examining the soil around the 2 tanks. Officials say that contaminated water may have leaked outside the barriers.

Jun. 4, 2014 - Updated 19:44 UTC