UN approves radioactive waste dump

The International Atomic Energy Agency says Japan’s plan to release irradiated waste water from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean complies with international standards


Storage: Around 1,000 huge tanks scattered over site hold nearly 1.3 million tonnes of contaminated water, but space is running out

Dilution plant

Wrecked nuclear power station*

Undersea pipe: Expels waste water 1km off shore

NO FISHING ZONE

300m 980 ft
N


1,000km 620 miles
JAPAN
Fukushima


DILUTION SYSTEM

Waste water: Purified of radioactive material, excluding tritium

Tritium water: Chemically identical to normal water – tritium cannot be removed
O H 3H

Pumps
Sea water intake
Pump
Road
Discharged into ocean

Measurement facility: Checks purification level

Mixture: Waste and sea water combined

Final check: Makes sure dilution is satisfactory

1 2 3 4 5


*Mar 11, 2011: 14-metre high tsunami destroys power station in worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl


Sources: Reuters, Market Research Telecast, TEPCO, Geospatial Information Authority of Japan (GIS), U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 
Picture: GIS 
© GRAPHIC NEWS