TEPCO alerts IAEA about Fukushima nuclear power station leak

The incident poses no public and environmental threat.

Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) has reported to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) about a leak of water containing radioactive materials from a caesium absorption tower at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS).

Approximately 5.5 cubic metres (m3) of water has been leaked from a valve left open during maintenance work at the absorption tower.

It primarily is a mix of contaminated water from the absorption system and filtered water used for cleaning, with a projected 0,022 Terabecquerel (TBq) of radioactive substances.

The leaked water from the system filters is part of the current decommissioning activities at the site, unrelated to the discharge of the Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS) treated water.

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The leak from the caesium absorption tower was reported around 8:53 AM on 7 February. The tower within the High Temperature Incinerator Building is used to filter out caesium and strontium from contaminated water at the site. For the inspection, the absorption tower’s valve was closed at 9:10 AM, and the leak stopped at 9:16 AM.

TEPCO has stated that no prominent fluctuation in radiation measurements was detected at the site. However, the incident does not present a public or environmental risk offsite.

Due to the leak, Japan’s Nuclear Regulatory Authority has conducted an onsite investigation.