The work: As part of its ongoing safety review, the IAEA collected samples of this latest batch from the discharge vertical shaft and seawater pipe header where ALPS (Advanced Liquid Processing System)–treated water is diluted with seawater before being discharged through a 1-kilometer-long tunnel into the sea. The IAEA said that on-site analysis confirmed that the tritium concentration is far below Japan’s operational limit of 1,500 becquerels per liter and is in line with international safety standards.
Approximately 125,400 cubic meters of ALPS-treated water has been released since Japan began discharging it in batches in August 2023. TEPCO started on the 17th batch last week on December 4. The IAEA has previously confirmed that the tritium concentrations in the first 16 batches were far below Japan’s operational limits.
The plan: In a comprehensive report issued on July 4, 2023, before the first discharge began, the IAEA’s safety review found that Japan’s plan for handling the treated water was consistent with international safety standards and that the release as planned would have a negligible radiological impact to people and the environment.
Reports on sampling, independent analysis, data evaluation, as well as timelines, are available on the IAEA website.