equipment. Workers are required to routinely
collect water samples for analysis at laboratories
at the plant. Radiology technicians were
analyzing the water at one lab, where journalists
were not allowed to enter. Officials say the
treated water will be diluted with fresh water
before it is released into the environment.
Doubts about the plant’s water treatment
escalated two years ago when TEPCO
acknowledged that most of the water stored in
the tanks still contains cancer-causing cesium,
strontium and other radioactive materials at
levels exceeding safety limits.
Masumi Kowata, who lives in Okuma, a town
where part of the plant is located, said some
of her neighbors are offering their land so that
more storage tanks can be built.
“We should not dump the water until we
have proof about its safety,” she said. “The
government says it’s safe, but how do we know?”