Tokyo Electric Power Co. has found leaks that could delay the start of a crucial system to lower the radioactivity of contaminated water at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.
Tokyo Electric Power Co. has found leaks that could delay the start of a crucial system to lower the radioactivity of contaminated water at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.
TEPCO said June 10 it found water seeping from a valve and at more than 10 pipe joints of the system during testing ahead of the scheduled start June 15.
"The start of operations could be delayed somewhat," said Junichi Matsumoto, acting general manager of TEPCO's Nuclear Power and Plant Siting Division. "We don't know how many repairs are needed because we have not fully grasped the situation."
The company expects the system to substantially reduce the amount of highly radioactive water accumulated at reactor buildings and turbine buildings.
But TEPCO could run out of space to hold the water if the start of operations is delayed.
The company was testing for leaks in the system, which will remove radioactive materials, such as cesium, strontium and iodine.
TEPCO expects the processing to reduce concentrations of radioactive materials to between one-1,000th and one-10,000th the current levels.
The treated water will then be used to cool reactors or stored in a makeshift tank.
The system is capable of decontaminating 1,200 tons of radioactive water a day.