The Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO) has announced to dig an underwater tunnel to safely dispose of the radioactive water building up at the destroyed Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. The undersea tunnel will allow the dumping of the contaminated water at a moderate distance from the shore.
The idea is to dig a kilometer-long tunnel that will keep the contaminated water away from local fishers, reports the Associated Press. Japan hopes of pacifying an industry that’s been very vocal opponents of the plan to dump water at all.
Storage tanks to reach limits soon
The Fukushima decommissioning effort has attracted a lot of flak right from the beginning, with environmentalists and neighboring countries asking Japan to not dump water into the ocean. But with time slipping and no better options at hand, it seems the plan is going ahead in a tangible way.
Fukushima’s water storage tanks will reach their limits next year. At that point, the radioactive water would start overflowing, which could be a greater ecological issue than treating and diluting the water before dumping it in the ocean. Besides, there’s also the logistical need of emptying several tanks to make room for the facilities required to decommission the plant.
TEPCO plans to start drilling an earthquake-resistant tunnel soon, so it can start its 3-year-long release of the treated, diluted water after two years. As per the plan, the water will be released about 40 feet beneath the surface, where it will mix into the Pacific Ocean without causing noticeable harm.
Need for cleaning water
Previously, scientists created a new instant water disinfectant made using only hydrogen and the air that surrounds it. It is claimed to be “millions of times more effective” than conventional methods of removing bacteria from water. Besides, the researchers of the new method suggest that the disinfectant can help safely deliver potable water to communities in need. Moreover, it is also cost-effective. Around 780 million people across the globe lack a reliable clean water source, and millions more will face similar issues in the coming months.
