Radioactive Water
Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) announced on September 30 that it has restarted the Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS) designed to remove radioactive materials contained in contaminated water.
According to Kyodo News, TEPCO has reactivated ALPS, which stopped 22 hours after test operation on September 27. The breakdown of the system at the Fukushima nuclear plant is believed to be caused by a piece of plastic padding that clogged up a drain on the tank.
ALPS can remove 62 radioactive substances from contaminated water, but not tritium.
The Fukushima nuclear plant operator is planning to contain leaks of radiation-contaminated water by restarting the third system and building additional facilities.
Earlier, Japan’s nuclear regulation authority publicly said that tritium cannot be eliminated with ALPS, adding that there is no choice but to discharge the radioactive substance into the sea. Hence, the remarks have caused concern in neighboring countries.