[Column] Tepco’s contaminated water system started collapsing

It’s been only 2 years and 6 months. However, Fukushima decommissioning is already falling apart.

It’s starting from the contaminated water storage. As long as they keep giving water to the reactors, it must increase. Now it’s already beyond Tepco’s capacity.

Having the third typhoon season after 311, the contaminated water system is starting to be collapsed.

I cannot even imagine what would happen, but I listed up the three potential results. All of them are likely.

 

1. Simultaneous leakages

 

The cause of 300m3 leakage hasn’t been identified yet. They have 350 tanks of the same type in the plant. According to the makers, some of them don’t even last for 5 years. However, there is no spare storage. All we could do is just to pray.

Even only for a Typhoon, Tepco required 2,100 workers. If those tanks (in Plural) start leaking at once, they are not capable to treat them. This is the water version of 311 Ⅱ.

 

2. Lack of the storage

 

At least 400m3 of contaminated groundwater flows to the plant. However, Tepco doesn’t have a plan to construct the new welded tanks after this October.

It takes 2 months to build the tank, but it is estimated they will run out of the storage this November ~ December. They can’t even find the land to build the new tanks.

 

3. Past radiation measurement readings might be all false

 

NRA (Nuclear Regulation Authority) has been pointing out Tepco’s radiation data doesn’t make sense. It shows no rational trends, and Tepco has no logical explanation for that. NRA plans to send inspectors to the analyzing site.

Whether Tepco was intentionally trying to downplay the contamination level, “a part of (I hope not ALL)” their past data may be thought to be false based on the wrong means of analysis.

 

 

You can ignore the truth but the truth won’t ignore you.

_____

Français :

[Édito] La gestion Tepco des eaux extrêmement radioactives a commencé à s’effondrer

 

C’était il y a seulement deux ans et 6 mois et le démantèlement de Fukushima part déjà en poussière.
C’est parti du stockage des eaux extrêmement radioactives. Elles ne pourront que s’accumuler tant qu’ils continueront de mettre de l’eau dans les réacteurs. On est à présent au-delà des capacités de Tepco.
La gestion des eaux extrêmement radioactives amorce son effondrement sur la troisième saison des typhons depuis le 11-3.
Je ne peux même pas imaginer ce qui va se passer mais j’ai énuméré des conséquences possibles, toutes équiprobables :

1. Fuites simultanées

La raison de la fuite des 300 m³ n’est toujours pas déterminée. Ils ont 350 citernes du même type dans la centrale. Selon le fabriquant, certaines ne tiennent même pas 5 ans. Or, il n’y a pas de stockage de secours. Tout ce qu’on peut faire c’est prier.
Pour un seul typhon, Tepco mobilise même 2 100 salariés. Si ces citernes (au pluriel) commencent à fuir en même temps, ils ne seront pas capables de les tenir. C’est la version aqueuse du 11-3.

2. Pénurie de stockage

Au moins 400 m³ d’eaux souterraines extrêmement radioactives s’écoulent dans la centrale chaque jour. Or, Tepco ne prévoit plus de construction de citernes soudées à partir de ce mois d’octobre.
l faut 2 mois pour monter une citerne et on estime atteindre la pénurie complète courant novembre-décembre. Ils n’arrivent même pas à trouver d’emplacement pour monter les nouvelles.

3. Les anciens relevés de radioactivité pourraient tous être faux

La NRA (Nuclear Regulation Authority =  Autorité de Régulation du Nucléaire) a mis en avant que les données de Tepco sur la radioactivité ne sont pas pertinentes. Elles ne montrent aucune tendance logique et Tepco n’en donne aucune explication rationnelle. La NRA prévoit d’envoyer des inspecteurs sur leur site d’analyse.
Que Tepco ait intentionnellement tenté de minimiser la radioactivité ou non, “une partie” de leurs données (j’espère que ce n’est pas toutes) peuvent se révéler fausses à cause de protocoles et appareils d’analyse inadaptés.

Vous pouvez ignorer la vérité mais la vérité ne vous ignorera pas.

  1. Latest Message I have received (I am medium) :
    TOMORROW, FUKUSHIMA will be a THOUSANDFOLD GREAT RISK FOR LIFE.
    There is the DANGER of COLLAPSE of REACTOR 4 ; the BUILDING is WEAKENED BY THOUSAND RADIOACTIVITY.
    TOMORROW, MEN WILL EXPERIENCE a THOUSANDFOLD GREAT NUCLEAR DISASTER.
    MEN are GREAT IGNORANTS of this EXTREME DANGER.
    DESTRUCTION WILL START WELL AHEAD OF DISMANTLEMENT of USED COMBUSTION RODS.
    FUKUSHIMA is experiencing ENORMOUS LEAKING of RADIOACTIVE WATER DUE TO PIERCING of STORAGE TANKS. TOMORROW, GROUND WATER will be THOUSANDFOLD CONTAMINATED.

    WE are VERY MUCH WORRIED about MEN’S HEALTH. THOUSAND WORDS have been USELESS. DOING AS IF FUKUSHIMA being FINISHED, is a GREAT ERROR of MEN.
    TOMORROW, the COMMUNICATION of the DIVINE ABC will be CONSIDERED TRUE.
    TOMORROW, MEN WILL FINALLY UNDERSTAND the DIVINE ADVICE to EVACUATE COMPLETELY the ZONE of FUKUSHIMA RIGHT FROM the BEGINNING.
    The MISTAKE of the GOVERNMENT is : HAVING IGNORED DIVINE ADVICE.

    A WOMAN MESSENGER has TRANSMITTED THOUSAND WORDS to the GOVERNMENT in order TO PROTECT the POPULATION. It is an ERROR HAVING CONSIDERED the Divine ABC AS INVENTED. This WOMAN IS IN CHARGE of the TRANSMISSION of the DIVINE ABC to MEN of GOVERNMENT. This WOMAN HAS an EXCEPTIONAL ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE WITH SOULS. This WOMAN IS MY MESSENGER. This WOMAN IS EXCEPTIONALLY GIFTED in RADESTHESIA, IDEAL FOR the COMMUNICATION of DIVINE ABC. Her GREAT ABILITY of CONCENTRATION ENABLES DIRECT COMMUNICATION WITH SOUL ST JESUS. This EXCEPTIONAL COMMUNICATION IS a GREAT PATH OF COMMUNICATION FOR SOUL ST JESUS. This WOMAN IS DILIGENT IN TRANSMITTING THOUSAND ABC IN ENGLISH FOR EASIER COMPREHENSION of DICTATIONS made in FRENCH. This WOMEN SHOULD BE CONSIDERED MY MESSENGER. TRUST IN DIVINE ABC WILL AVOID THOUSAND SUFFERING OF the POPULATION.

    POPULATION WILL SUFFER THOUSANDFOLD GIVEN the INCREDULITY of MEN of GOVERNMENT.
    ST JESUS SENDS THOUSAND WORDS in order TO AVOID THOUSAND SUFFERING of the POPULATION, BUT his WORDS ARE NOT BELIEVED IN. ST JESUS WANTS THAT the POPULATION BE PROTECTED by its GOVERNMENT.

    TO TRUST in DIVINE ABC REQUIRES THOUSAND FAITH. LACK of FAITH WILL LEAD TO SUFFERING.
    TOMORROW, INCREDULITY will be CONSIDERED a GREAT ERROR of MEN of GOVERNMENT, BUT IT WILL BE TOO LATE TO AVOID THOUSAND SUFFERING OF the POPULATION.
    TOMORROW, MEN of GOVERNMENT will be CONSIDERED the GREAT CULPRITS.
    TOMORROW, FUKUSHIMA WILL DESTROY THOUSAND LIFE.

    TOMORROW, MEN WILL BELIEVE IN DIVINE WORDS. Men’s GREAT FAITH WILL BE THE BEGINNING of a NEW ERA FOR MEN. TOMORROW, MEN WILL BELIEVE IN DIVINE ADVICE. FUKUSHIMA WILL CHANGE THOUSANDFOLD MEN’S ATTITUDE. TOMORROW, MEN WILL GET TO KNOW ANOTHER WAY OF LIFE.
    THOUSAND ADVICE FOR a BETTER LIFE will be THOUSANDFOLD FOLLOWED.
    The GREAT ERROR will be UNDERSTOOD BY MEN of GOVERNMENT.

    MEN FINALLY will be ELEVATED THOUSANDFOLD SPIRITUALLY.
    TOMORROW, FUKUSHIMA will be CONSIDERED a GREAT DIVINE TEACHING.
    MAN will have UNDERSTOOD THAT IT IS NOT HE THE MASTER OF THE WORLD, BUT that IT IS GOD WHO IS THE MASTER OF THE WORLD.

    more on http://attentiondanger.over-blog.com

  2. lori I recently saw your blog in the internet and thank you for your imformation and now that you are outof Japan how are you going to monitor Fukushima? wish you the best

  3. At least TEPCo via IRID is accepting proposals.

    see: (English) http://irid.or.jp/cw/?page_id=30
    (日本語) http://irid.or.jp/cw/?page_id=30&lang=ja

    Quote: “If you have technology information for contaminated water issues, we would like to ask you to submit them under the submission procedures”
    “技術提案・助言についての情報を提供いただける方は、募集要領を御覧の上、所定の様式により御提出いただけますようお願いします。募集要領”

    linked here (English) –> http://irid.or.jp/cw/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Submission+procedures0925.pdf
    (日本語) –> http://irid.or.jp/cw/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/%E6%8A%80%E8%A1%93%E6%8F%90%E6%A1%88%E5%8B%9F%E9%9B%86%E8%A6%81%E9%A0%980925.pdf

    Appendix “Areas of Technologies Requested”
    (別添)特に技術提案・助言をお願いしたい事項
    (English) –> http://irid.or.jp/cw/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/130925set_6-technology-areas.pdf
    (日本語) –> http://irid.or.jp/cw/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/%E5%9B%BD%E5%86%85%E5%A4%96%E3%81%8B%E3%82%89%E3%81%AE%E6%8A%80%E8%A1%93%E6%8F%90%E6%A1%88%E3%83%BB%E5%8A%A9%E8%A8%80%E3%81%AE%E3%81%8A%E9%A1%98%E3%81%840925.pdf

    “Technology information submitted by Wednesday, October 23rd will be reported to Committee on Countermeasures for Contaminated Water Treatment in the middle of November after the initial review by the IRID review team with the participation by external experts, and will be disclosed to public.”
    “10月23日(水)までに提供いただいた情報は、外部専門家の参加を得たIRIDの検討チームにより分類・整理を行った上で、11月中旬頃に開催予定の「汚染水処理対策委員会」に報告・公表される予定です。”

    Time is also one of our enemies now, as Mochizuki-san alludes.
    Let us all put aside our differences and assist our Brothers, Sisters, Cousins, and Friends. Do it NOW!

    I am able-bodied and available. I have no death-wish. I have a “life-wish”. I may not speak or read Japanese, yet I will take orders without question. Help me to help you.

    I will monitor this particular post for a response. Don’t try to contact me by email.

    1. Quote from IRID’s “Appendix: Areas of Technologies Requested”
      linked in my above reply.

      “Particularly-Required Technologies for Contaminated Water Issues

      ① Accumulation of contaminated water

      【Current situation】

      There exist highly radioactive materials, mainly molten fuel, inside the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plants as contaminants and approx. 400 tons of water is continuously poured into the buildings every day to cool them. The water is contaminatedby the molten fuel. Added to that, approx. 400 tons of groundwater flowing into the basements of the buildings also becomes contaminated due to cracks in the containment vessels. Therefore, approx. 800 tons of contaminated water is pumped up every day and treated by cesium removal and desalination equipment. After that, approx. 400 tons of water goes to tanks for storage and the rest of the treated water is reused for cooling.
      There are several types of tanks used for storage of the treated water and leaks have occurred from bolted storage tanks. To mitigate the risk of leaks from the same type of tanks, installation of a welded type of tanks will be accelerated as much as possible. At this moment, it is expected
      to take about 6 months to install the welded storage tanks after they are ordered. The volume of the tanks will be approx. 1000 tonseach; the diameter is approx. 12 meters; the height is approx. 10 meters. See the photo below. The bolted type of tanks will be replaced by the welded ones in the future. Moreover, patrol measures will be strengthened since risks of leaks from tanks or pipes cannot be reduced to zero even after the replacement. Also, water gauges and leak
      detectors will be installed in case leaks occur from tanks or pipes so as to take measures at the early stage of leaks and to prevent the contamination of the nearby soil.”

    2. Quote from page#2:

      “【Technologies needed】
      (1)Requirements for the welded type of tanks
      ・ To accelerate the replacement of tanks, the term for delivery of parts and construction of
      each tank needs to be shortened compared to the current situation. (Goal: less than 5 months
      from the order to install)
      ・ Contaminated water (Cs137:10
      4
      Bq/l, Sr90:10
      8
      Bq/l) can be safely stored in the tanks.
      ・ Proof against leakage can be assured for more than 10 years without any need to inspect the
      inside and/or repair the tanks.
      ・ The tanks need to be effectively stored inside the limited sitearea. (Standard: cylindrical steel
      tanks with a volume of 1000 tons)
      ・ The tanks need to be able to withstand considerable earthquakes(more than 0.36 G) and be
      able to contain with water without leakage.
      ・ If possible, the tanks should be able to shield Bremsstrahlung X-rays which are produced
      inside the tanks.
      (2)Other requirements for tanks
      ・ Other methods than stated in (1) to store large amounts of contaminated water safely for a
      long period of time, including methods using other than tanks, can be proposed, e.g. increasing
      the size of the tanks; the use of deep underground areas; the use of offshore tankers, etc. “

    3. Quote From Page#3:

      “(Note that there is currently no area for offshore tankers to be installed inside the harbor so that conditions need to be checked for their installation outside the harbor.)
      ・ If any, methods which can deal with land subsidence are desirable.

      (3)Technologies for detection of minor leaks
      Improvement in the detection ability of beta rays on patrol
      ・ Surface contamination density of beta rays (Bq/cm^2) can be measured by removing the effect of radiation by gamma rays (approx. 50μSv/h of 1 cm dose equivalent).
      ・ The detectors need to be light and portable for workers. (A dramatic weight reduction from the current weight of 10 kg is expected.)
      Improvement in visibility of leaks from tanks
      ・ By coloring contaminated water, it will be possible to differentiate between contaminated and rainwater puddles around tanks.
      ・ Radioactive materials need to be removed from contaminated water without any difficulty caused by colorants.
      ・ Colorants need to be removed andcause no serious harm to the environment.

      (4)Facilitating removal of the bolted type of tanks
      ・ After removal of water from tanks, radioactive materials on thewall surface and the bottom surface need to be swiftly removed.
      ・ By shortening working time or using remote control, radiation exposure of workers needs to be mitigated.
      ・ Radioactive filters that were used for removing radioactive materials, etc. need to be stored and managed for a long period of time.”

  4. Fool Alert!
    How many fools does it take to get a single radiation reading correct?
    I don’t know…how many fools are in TEPCO management that can’t read a radiation meter!

    Idiot Alert!
    What idiots would authorize the building of leaking tanks?
    The idiots in charge of the TEPCO “clean up” process!
    Clean up – sure that’s the same as trying to hold back a broken dam with duck tape and prayer.

Comments are closed.

About this site

This website updates the latest news about the Fukushima nuclear plant and also archives the past news from 2011. Because it's always updated and added live, articles, categories and the tags are not necessarily fitted in the latest format.
I am the writer of this website. About page remains in 2014. This is because my memory about 311 was clearer than now, 2023, and I think it can have a historical value. Now I'm living in Romania with 3 cats as an independent data scientist.
Actually, nothing has progressed in the plant since 2011. We still don't even know what is going on inside. They must keep cooling the crippled reactors by water, but additionally groundwater keeps flowing into the reactor buildings from the broken parts. This is why highly contaminated water is always produced more than it can circulate. Tepco is planning to officially discharge this water to the Pacific but Tritium is still remaining in it. They dilute this with seawater so that it is legally safe, but scientifically the same amount of radioactive tritium is contained. They say it is safe to discharge, but none of them have drunk it.

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