Tritium Level Far Below Japan’s Operational Limit in 18th Batch of ALPS-Treated Water, IAEA Confirms

The tritium concentration of the 18th batch of Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS)-treated water, which Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) began discharging today from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS), is far below Japan's operational limit and consistent with the international safety standards, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed today.

As part of its ongoing safety assessment, the IAEA conducted independent sampling of the latest batch at the discharge vertical shaft and seawater pipe header, where ALPS-treated water is blended with seawater prior to release via a one-kilometre tunnel into the ocean. On-site analysis confirmed that the tritium concentration is far below Japan's operational limit of 1,500 becquerels per litre and is in line with international safety standards.

Since Japan began releasing ALPS-treated water in batches in August 2023, roughly 133,000 cubic meters have been discharged. The IAEA has confirmed that the tritium levels in all first 17 batches were far below the operational limits set by Japan.

Background

In a comprehensive report issued on 4 July 2023 before the first discharge began, the IAEA's safety review found that Japan's plan for handling the treated water was consistent with international safety standards and that the release as planned would have a negligible radiological impact to people and the environment.

Reports on sampling, independent analysis, data evaluation, as well as timelines, are available on the IAEA website.