Fukushima Treated Water Release Enters Third Year with Over 110,000 Tons Discharged

The Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) has been releasing treated radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean for three years, with over 100,000 tons discharged to date. The water, treated via the Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS) to remove most radioactive substances except tritium, is diluted before release to levels well below Japanese safety standards and the World Health Organization's guidelines for drinking water. Continuous monitoring has found tritium concentrations in seawater samples far below thresholds that would halt discharges, with no detected abnormalities or safety concerns. Despite the releases, about 1.27 million tons of treated water remain stored in more than 1,000 tanks on-site, some of which still require further purification, and rain and groundwater continue to increase the volume of contaminated water. The ongoing discharge aims to free tank space for decommissioning efforts, which are planned to be completed by 2051. While China has lifted its blanket ban on Japanese seafood imports after independent testing, it maintains restrictions on products from Fukushima and nine other prefectures, which Japan is seeking to have lifted.