Undersea Tunnel Being Built to Channel Treated Water Out of Fukushima
The operator of Japan’s shuttered Fukushima nuclear power plant recently announced plans to build an “undersea tunnel” to carry treated water from the plant and into the ocean. This intrigues me so I thought I’d make it the topic of a blog post!
Rationale for Building the Undersea Tunnel
As you know, the Fukushima power plant was overwhelmed by a massive tsunami in 2011, causing a meltdown. As is the case with all nukes, water was used to cool the plant, and after the plant went out of commission in 2011, this water had no means of being released. Making matters worse, a decade of rain and groundwater seepage has occurred, pooling even more water at the site.
The undersea tunnel aims to solve this problem and get rid of the water. A tunnel design was chosen because it is the most efficient way to direct the outflow, and it will prevent the water from flowing back toward the shore.
All told, the roughly half-mile-long undersea tunnel will be 8 feet in diameter and will pump over 1 million tons of water into the Pacific Ocean over a 2-year period. While this may sound somewhat alarming, according to Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO), which owns and operates Fukushima, it’s okay to release it into the ocean because the water will be treated to remove radioactive particles. It will also be diluted for good measure.
Construction will begin around March 2022, however that is pending the completion of acceptable feasibility and environmental studies. It is also contingent on placating residents, who understandably are up in arms over the whole thing. Local fishermen are also complaining, because they are worried about how this will impact their customers’ perception of their seafood quality.
TEPCO insists there are no health risks, and in fact the plan was approved by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). TEPCO plans to launch a comprehensive communication and education campaign to convey that it is safe. The company is also prepared to pay compensation in the event that any reputational damage occurs within the local fishing industry.
Depressingly, the undersea tunnel will not be the last we hear of Fukushima, as the decommissioning process will likely be ongoing for a couple more decades.
