Ex - SKF....
(UPDATE) It may not just be about groundwater samples along the embankment.All the high-density all-beta/strontium analyses done at Fukushima I NPP, including the analyses of all-beta/strontium in the RO (reverse osmosis) waste water, may be wrong. Or TEPCO says they "cannot deny the possibility that the analyses were wrong." (from a tweet by @jaikoman who tweets just about every single TEPCO and NRA press conference)
Jiji Tsushin just reported the same thing. The information is from the press conference on February 7, 2014.
For more information about the RO waste water leak of August 2013, go to this link.
==============================
Of that, strontium-90 alone turned out to be 5 million Bq/L. The reason (excuse)? Wrong measurement method used. Or something to that extent that even people who know a lot about nuclide analysis are scratching their heads trying to figure out how that happened.
Yomiuri Shinbun has the best summary of the situation (2/7/2014):
The word "uncontaminated" in the title above is in quotation marks, because there may be radionuclides left in the groundwater to be released, particularly tritium, even though it is the water drawn from the wells placed on the west side of the reactor buildings - i.e. before the groundwater enters the reactor buildings and gets contaminated.
From Jiji Tsushin (2/3/2014), after the regular press conference by TEPCO:
Energy News....
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2014
#Fukushima I NPP: TEPCO Admits Error 7 Months Later, Says All-Beta from Observation Hole Along Embankment Was 10 Million Bq/L, Not 900K Bq/L
(UPDATE) It may not just be about groundwater samples along the embankment.All the high-density all-beta/strontium analyses done at Fukushima I NPP, including the analyses of all-beta/strontium in the RO (reverse osmosis) waste water, may be wrong. Or TEPCO says they "cannot deny the possibility that the analyses were wrong." (from a tweet by @jaikoman who tweets just about every single TEPCO and NRA press conference)
Jiji Tsushin just reported the same thing. The information is from the press conference on February 7, 2014.
For more information about the RO waste water leak of August 2013, go to this link.
==============================
Of that, strontium-90 alone turned out to be 5 million Bq/L. The reason (excuse)? Wrong measurement method used. Or something to that extent that even people who know a lot about nuclide analysis are scratching their heads trying to figure out how that happened.
Yomiuri Shinbun has the best summary of the situation (2/7/2014):
力は６日、福島第一原子力発電所の護岸にある観測用の井戸の一つで、昨年７月５日に採取した地下水から、放射性ストロンチウムが１リットル当たり５００万ベクレル検出されたと発表した。
On February 6, TEPCO announced that 5 million Bq/Liter of radioactive strontium was detected from the groundwater sample taken on June 5 last year from one of the observation wells on the embankment of Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant [the embankment is located between the turbine buildings and the plant harbor].
国の放出基準の１６万倍以上で、地下水の過去最高値（１リットル当たり５１００ベクレル）の約１０００倍に上った。東電はこの約半年間、ストロンチウム単独の濃度は「測定結果が誤っている可能性がある」として公表していなかった。
The density is 160,000 times that of the legal limit for release into the ocean, and it is about 1,000 times that of the highest density in the groundwater that had been measured so far (5,100 Bq/L). TEPCO didn't disclose the result of measurement of strontium alone, as the company believed there was a possibility that the result of measurement was wrong.
東電は今回の地下水について、採取直後の昨年７月、ストロンチウムを含む様々な放射性物質の総量（全ベータ）を同９０万ベクレルと発表していた。東電は６日、「高濃度の全ベータは測定上限を超え、軒並み過小評価していた」と説明。この地下水の実際の全ベータは同約１０００万ベクレルとの見方を示した。最近は、高濃度の場合は薄めて分析する方法に変えているという。
As to this particular sample, TEPCO had announced on July last year that the sample had contained 900,000 Bq/L of all-beta including strontium. On February 6, TEPCO explained that they had "underestimated all of the results of high-density all-beta, which [in fact] exceeded the upper limit of measurement." This particular sample may contain about 10 million Bq/L of all-beta, according to TEPCO. The company recently switched to a different method of analysis that uses diluted samples when the density of radioactive materials is high.
So this is the lowdown of the case of strontium more abundant than all-beta, all thanks to the faulty measurement by TEPCO.
Browsing through the documents released by TEPCO, the particular observation hole was No.1-2, which is no longer used as the result of waterglass injection into the soil in the embankment. It is close to where the extremely contaminated water from Reactor 2 turbine building had been found leaking in April 2011 (via the underground electrical trenches).
From TEPCO's document for the press (2/6/2014; English label is by me), the location of No.1-2 observation hole:
Browsing through the documents released by TEPCO, the particular observation hole was No.1-2, which is no longer used as the result of waterglass injection into the soil in the embankment. It is close to where the extremely contaminated water from Reactor 2 turbine building had been found leaking in April 2011 (via the underground electrical trenches).
From TEPCO's document for the press (2/6/2014; English label is by me), the location of No.1-2 observation hole:
TEPCO inserted the newly disclosed 5 million Bq/L for strontium-90 but the number for all-beta remains uncorrected, at 900,000 Bq/L (which TEPCO now says 10 million Bq/L instead):
10,000,000 Bq/L of all-beta, or 10,000 Bq/cubic centimeter of all-beta. That's the same order of magnitude of all-beta in the water that gets contaminated after circulating through the reactors (see my September 2013 post), but the levels of cesium-134 and cesium-137 in this sample water is too low for this water to be the contaminated water that is currently circulating the reactors.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2014
#Fukushima I NPP Groundwater Bypass Plan: TEPCO/METI Prepare for Release of "Uncontaminated" Groundwater into Ocean
The word "uncontaminated" in the title above is in quotation marks, because there may be radionuclides left in the groundwater to be released, particularly tritium, even though it is the water drawn from the wells placed on the west side of the reactor buildings - i.e. before the groundwater enters the reactor buildings and gets contaminated.
From Jiji Tsushin (2/3/2014), after the regular press conference by TEPCO:
地下水放出へ運用目標＝トリチウム１５００ベクレル未満－福島第１
Fukushima I NPP targets set for releasing groundwater into the ocean, tritium less than 1500 Bq/L
東京電力は３日、福島第１原発で汚染される前の地下水を海に放出する計画について、放射性物質の濃度を定めた運用目標を策定した。セシウム１３４、同１３７は１リットル当たり１ベクレル未満、ストロンチウム９０などベータ線を出す放射性物質は同５ベクレル未満、トリチウムは同１５００ベクレル未満とした。
On February 3, TEPCO announced the operating targets for densities of radioactive materials in groundwater to be relased into the ocean. The groundwater is drawn before it enters the reactor buildings and gets contaminated. The targets for cesium-134 and cesium-137 will be less than 1 Bq/L each, all-beta less than 5 Bq/L, and tritium less than 1,500 Bq/L.
放出計画は汚染水抑制策の一環。海に流せる法定の基準に比べ、運用目標は濃度を４分の１以下にした。地元漁業者に説明し、放出計画への理解を求める。
The groundwater release is part of the plan to reduce contaminated water. The densities of radioactive materials are less than 1/4 of the legal limits for release into the ocean. TEPCO will talk with the local fishermen to obtain their understanding of [consent to] the release.
基準を上回った場合は放出を中止して浄化し、基準値未満にして再開する。ベータ線を出す放射性物質は、目標よりさらに低い同１ベクレル未満になるまで浄化する方針。
If the densities are above the operating targets, the release will be suspended and the water will be purified before the release resumes. For beta nuclides, TEPCO plans to purify until the density is less than 1 Bq/L, lower than the operating target.
And here's METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)'s effort in persuading the fishermen.
From Kyodo News (2/3/2014):
From Kyodo News (2/3/2014):
地下水バイパス稼働に理解求める 経産副大臣、全漁連に
Vice Minister of Economy asks National Federation of Fisheries Co-operative Associations for understanding of the start of groundwater bypass
経済産業省の赤羽一嘉副大臣は３日、全国漁業協同組合連合会に対し、東京電力福島第１原発の汚染水対策として、地下水をくみ上げて海に放出する地下水バイパスの稼働への理解を求めた。
Vice Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Kazuyoshi Akaba asked National Federation of Fisheries Co-operative Associations for understanding of the start of groundwater bypass, which is part of dealing with the contaminated water at Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant. The groundwater bypass will draw groundwater and release the water into the ocean.
経産省側は、漁業者の懸念を取り除くため、くみ上げた地下水を放出する際、放射性物質の濃度について、現行基準より厳しい運用基準を適用する考えを明らかにした。
[Vice Minister Akaba said] METI will apply the operating standards that are stricter than the existing standards in radioactive material density in the groundwater that will be drawn, in order to mitigate concerns from fishermen.
原子炉建屋に流れ込む地下水は、汚染水増加の原因となっている。地下水バイパスは汚染される前に地下水をくみ上げるが、漁業関係者を中心に、風評被害などへの懸念が強く、運用できない状況が続いている。
The groundwater that leaks into the reactor building is one of the causes for increase in contaminated water. According to the groundwater bypass scheme, the water will be drawn before it gets contaminated. However, concerns for baseless rumors remain strong particularly among fishermen, which has prevented the scheme from being implemented.
I wonder how TEPCO is going to "purify" the water to less than 1Bq/L. My guess is dilution, particularly if it is tritium which cannot be effectively removed on a large scale.
But it probably doesn't matter, as one day later Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry says METI has already obtained "a certain level of understanding" from the fisheries co-op.
From Jiji Tsushin (2/4/2014):
But it probably doesn't matter, as one day later Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry says METI has already obtained "a certain level of understanding" from the fisheries co-op.
From Jiji Tsushin (2/4/2014):
全漁連から一定の理解＝福島第１原発の地下水対策－茂木経産相
Minister of Economy Motegi says a certain level of understanding from the fisheries co-op in dealing with the groundwater at Fukushima I NPP
茂木敏充経済産業相は４日の閣議後記者会見で、東京電力福島第１原発の汚染水対策である「地下水バイパス」計画について、全国漁業協同組合連合会（ＪＦ全漁連）から「必要性については一定の理解を得ている」との認識を示した。赤羽一嘉経産副大臣が３日、全漁連の岸宏会長に計画の概要を説明し、理解を求めていた。
In the press conference after the cabinet meeting on February 4, 2014, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Toshimitsu Motegi said [the ministry] has obtained "a certain level of understanding as to the necessity" of the groundwater bypass plan from the National Federation of Fisheries Co-operative Association in dealing with the contaminated water at Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant. Vice Minister Kazuyoshi Akaba had met with Hiroshi Kishi, Chairman of the National Federation of Fisheries Co-operative Association on February 3 to explain the outline of the plan and ask for understanding.
So the National Federation of Fisheries C-op Association will bear down on the Fukushima Federation of Fisheries Co-op Association, who will then bear down on the local Fisheries Co-ops in cities like Iwaki. The local Co-Ops will bear down on individual fishermen, who will probably need little persuasion, as they are eager to resume fishing.
TEPCO/METI plan to release groundwater seems to be back on track, as if the ground contamination in the very area where the wells were dug for the groundwater drawing had never happened in August 2013.
Right near where the wells are, there are huge tanks, mostly riveted together and meant to last for no more than 5 years, that contain highly radioactive (mostly beta nuclides, not gamma) waste water after reverse osmosis (desalination) treatment. Several of the tanks in the area were found to have leaked this waste wateralthough no one knows exactly how much waste water leaked or how it leaked, and the leak may be slowly finding its way towards the wells. The elevated levels of tritium have already been measured, although they are well below the operating target of 1500 Bq/L.
Locations of the wells for drawing groundwater for the groundwater bypass scheme, and the sample water analysis (from TEPCO, 1/30/2014): the highest contamination of tritium recorded was 1,000 Bq/L from No.12 well on 12/24/2013.
TEPCO/METI plan to release groundwater seems to be back on track, as if the ground contamination in the very area where the wells were dug for the groundwater drawing had never happened in August 2013.
Right near where the wells are, there are huge tanks, mostly riveted together and meant to last for no more than 5 years, that contain highly radioactive (mostly beta nuclides, not gamma) waste water after reverse osmosis (desalination) treatment. Several of the tanks in the area were found to have leaked this waste wateralthough no one knows exactly how much waste water leaked or how it leaked, and the leak may be slowly finding its way towards the wells. The elevated levels of tritium have already been measured, although they are well below the operating target of 1500 Bq/L.
Locations of the wells for drawing groundwater for the groundwater bypass scheme, and the sample water analysis (from TEPCO, 1/30/2014): the highest contamination of tritium recorded was 1,000 Bq/L from No.12 well on 12/24/2013.
Latest measurement of contamination levels in the H4 tank area, located southeast of the wells (from TEPCO, 2/6/2014):
For more on the "RO Waste Water Leak of August 2013", click here.
Nuclear Regulation Authority is yet to approve the operating targets, so all is not yet clear for TEPCO/METI. It is muddled as ever as to who is in charge of regulating TEPCO on the Fukushima I NPP accident cleanup efforts. It is supposed to be NRA, but it is increasingly tied up with the evaluation of nuclear power plants under the new guidelines in preparation for the restart. It looks METI is there (as it has always been there) to give the plant operators like TEPCO a way out, a bypass around the regulators.
Nuclear Regulation Authority is yet to approve the operating targets, so all is not yet clear for TEPCO/METI. It is muddled as ever as to who is in charge of regulating TEPCO on the Fukushima I NPP accident cleanup efforts. It is supposed to be NRA, but it is increasingly tied up with the evaluation of nuclear power plants under the new guidelines in preparation for the restart. It looks METI is there (as it has always been there) to give the plant operators like TEPCO a way out, a bypass around the regulators.
Energy News....
TV: Scientists have found nuclear waste off San Diego coast — Fukushima’s problems now being felt in our local ecosystem — Professor most worried about finding ‘pools’ of cesium — “Time will tell how this plays out” (VIDEO)
Fukushima Diary.....
Multiple nuclide removing system can’t filter 4
sorts of radionuclide
Posted by Mochizuki on February 6th, 2014 · 1 Comment
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On 2/5/2014, NRA (Nuclear Regulation Authority) announced the multiple nuclide removing system, ALPS (Advanced Liquid Processing System) can’t filter out 4 kinds of radionuclide.
Tepco and the government of Japan are expecting ALPS to remove 62 of the major nuclides from contaminated water, and discharge it to the sea. (Tritium still remains in the water.)
The specific names of those unfilter-able nuclides are not announced. Tepco is trying to add further absorption parts in the system.
Since they had ALPS in test operation in March of 2013, the system has never been in the full operation.
New leakage : 1,700,000 Bq of All β nuclide
absorbed in soil / Pressure gauge was frozen
Posted by Mochizuki on February 6th, 2014 · 2 Comments
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Tepco found the new leakage of the coolant water on 2/6/2014. In total, 1,700,000 Bq of All β nuclide (including Strontium-90) was leaked and absorbed by the ground, according to Tepco.
Tepco desalinates and circulates the coolant water for the reactors, which is significantly contaminated. The leakage occurred on the pipe.
The leakage volume was approx. 600 L. Tepco ended up removing 1 m3 of soil. They assume the differential pressure gage was frozen due to the cold weather.
The accident shows their coolant facility is still provisional and fragile, which can never last until Fukushima plant is finally decommissioned in 60~ years.
5,000,000,000 Bq/m3 of Strontium-90 measured
from groundwater last July / Tepco not
announced for half a year
Posted by Mochizuki on February 6th, 2014 · No Comments
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Monthly recurring donation is also appreciated.
Following up this article.. Strontium-90 was detected from only 1 of 755 nuclear waste samples before 311 in Fukushima plant [URL]
On 2/6/2014, Tepco announced they measured 5,000,000,000 Bq/m3 of Strontium-90 from groundwater last July.
Tepco hasn’t announced it for over half a year.
The sampling location was the seaside of reactor2. From this sample, 380,000,000 Bq/m3 of Tritium was also measured.
In August, when one month had passed since last measurement, they measured 4,000,000,000 Bq/m3 of Strontium-90 from the same boring again.
From this newly released data, Strontium-90 was measured from all the boring holes of the seaside of reactor2 and 3.
Regarding the delayed disclosure of data, Tepco stated they were taking time to investigate the cause of wrong analysis. However after all, they didn’t release the data, which strongly suggests the on-going sea contamination, before IOC selected Tokyo as the host city of Olympic 2020.
Atmospheric dose of reactor4 pool area is
nearly 0.1 mSv/h / Reaches the annual dose
limit only within 200 hours
Posted by Mochizuki on February 6th, 2014 · 4 Comments
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Following up this article.. NRA “Radiation dose is too high in reactor4 spent fuel pool area” → Tepco covered lead plate over the crane [URL]
The radiation dose on the “stand” above reactor4 pool is 90 μSv/h, according to NRA (Nuclear Regulation Authority).
The annual dose limit of workers is 20 mSv. The total exposure dose of fuel removing workers will reach this annual limit only within 200 hours.
Tepco is to keep removing the fuel until the end of this year.
However, Tepco announced they will not release the exposure dose data of the workers. The reason is not announced either.
(cf, Tepco not to announce the total exposure dose of workers for reactor4 pool fuel removing [URL])
Tepco not to announce the total exposure dose
of workers for reactor4 pool fuel removing
Posted by Mochizuki on February 5th, 2014 · 2 Comments
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Following up this article.. NRA “Radiation dose is too high in reactor4 spent fuel pool area” → Tepco covered lead plate over the crane [URL]
Tepco announced they won’t publish the total exposure dose of the workers who were involved in reactor4 pool fuel removing.
Unlike they expected, the pool water is contaminated to raise the radiation dose in the pool area. NRA ordered Tepco to take measures to reduce the atmospheric dose.
The significant exposure is anticipated, but Tepco is not going to disclose the data. Additionally, Tepco stated they won’t announce the reason why they don’t disclose it either.
NRA “Radiation dose is too high in reactor4
spent fuel pool area” → Tepco covered lead
plate over the crane
Posted by Mochizuki on February 5th, 2014 · 7 Comments
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Tepco is removing the fuel assemblies from reactor4 pool. NRA (Nuclear Regulation Authority) commented the radiation dose in pool area is too high, they ordered Tepco to take measures to reduce the radiation level.
Tepco was stating the pool water shields radiation from the fuel assemblies. However now that the pool water is highly contaminated, the workers also need to protect themselves from the increased radiation dose by the pool water.
The workers check inside of the water from above the refueling crane moving above the water. Tepco put lead plate over the crane to reduce the radiation level.
Strontium-90 was detected from only 1 of 755 nuclear waste samples before 311 in Fukushima plant
Posted by Mochizuki on February 5th, 2014 · No Comments
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Following up this article.. Tepco had been wrongly analyzing Strontium-90 since 2003 [URL]
From Tepco’s own data, Strontium-90 detection used to be very rare before 311.
According to Tepco, the measurement instrument had been analyzing 755 nuclear waste samples from 2003 to 311. However, Strontium-90 was measured from only one sample, and the reading was only 0.00014 Bq/m3.
It’s often said that those radionuclides flew from Chernobyl, not from Fukushima accident. However this is denying the hypothesis.
Tepco had been wrongly analyzing Strontium-
90 since 2003
Posted by Mochizuki on February 5th, 2014 · 1 Comment
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Following up this article.. NRA “Tepco’s past All β nuclide analysis may be wrong” [URL]
One of the measurement instruments has been having the wrong setting to analyze Strontium-90 even after 311, according to Tepco.
Tepco found the suspicious readings of Strontium-90 in contaminated water in June of 2013, they haven’t been announcing the Strontium-90 data for over 6 months to say they were investigating the reason.
The measurement instrument is located in the laboratory of reactor5, 6. It has been having the wrong setting since it was installed in 2003.
Even after 311, Tepco didn’t conduct any adjustment.
Tepco states Strontium-90 was overestimated due to the wrong setting.
Tepco plans to discharge Tritium to the sea up
to 30,000,000 Bq/m3
Posted by Mochizuki on February 3rd, 2014 · 19 Comments
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Monthly recurring donation is also appreciated.
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Related to this article.. Tritium density continuously increasing upstream of groundwater bypass wells since October of 2013 [URL]
Tepco plans to discharge the contaminated groundwater if Tritium density is lower than 30,000,000 Bq/m3, announced on 2/3/2014.
The groundwater is pumped up from the groundwater bypass wells.
Regarding other nuclides, they set the limits as 2,000 Bq/m3 for Cesium-134/137 and 10,000 Bq/m3 for all β. Tepco states even if someone drinks 2L of water for one year, the annual internal exposure dose would be only 0.86 mSv in this contamination level.
400 m3 of groundwater flows into the plant buildings every single day to turn to be contaminated water. By pumping up the water before it flows into the buildings, they expect to reduce the daily water volume. However, the simulation of their own shows the same volume of groundwater would be gathered even if they pump up, so it wouldn’t make any difference. This has never been reported by any media so far. The reason is not known.
Related article..Total Tritium in contaminated water increasing by 330 Trillion Bq per year / Beyond discharge-able amount [URL2]
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