According to reports, the decidedJapanese governmentto release contaminated radioactive water from the earthquake-damaged Fukushima power plant into the sea. But any release of the water is also expected to cause outrage among Japanese fishermen and raise concerns in neighboring countries. The power plant was destroyed by the earthquake and gigantic tsunami in northeastern Japan in March 2011 and the issue has been dogged by much controversy ever since.
Future Plans for Radioactive Water in Japan
An official decision could be made as early as this month. This is intended to end the seven-year debate about how to dispose of water to cool the power plant that suffered core meltdowns in the disasters. Earlier this year, a government subcommittee reported that releasing or evaporating the water into the sea were realistic options. Local fishermen and residents opposed the release because they feared consumers would avoid seafood caught nearby. South Korea, which currently bans seafood imports from the region, has repeatedly raised concerns about the environmental impact.
The government will set up a panel to take action. So these fears need to be addressed with Fukushima government officials and the local fishing industry. Since releasing the water into the sea requires construction and assessment, it would likely take about two years for discharge to begin. Local radioactive water was treated with an advanced liquid processing system (ALPS) to remove most contaminants other than relatively less toxic tritium. It is stored in storage facilities on the site of the facility. However, space is expected to run out by summer 2022. In addition, contaminated water is increasing by about 170 tons per day.
Possible alternatives
In September this year, stored water amounted to 1.23 million tonnes, filling 1,044 storage tanks. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said the government wanted to make a decision as quickly as possible. Here's how the water should be handled during his visit to the Fukushima plant. However, the release of the contaminated water into the sea meets global industry standards. International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi said this during his visit in February. This is a common way to release radioactive water in nuclear power plants around the world. This applies even if the country is not in emergency situations. However, widespread concerns remain. Many countries and regions still restrict imports of Japanese agricultural and fishery products following the 2011 disaster.
