TEPCO Orders to Prevent Water Leaks at Reactors

Japan's nuclear safety agency has instructed the operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant to prevent water leaks at the plant.

The move follows the discovery of water leaks on Sunday in 14 locations at the damaged plant, according to Japan's (NHK WORLD) website. Tokyo Electric Power Company says about 40 liters of water leaked from a cooling system for a spent fuel pool at the No. 4 reactor, forcing the system to stop for one hour and 40 minutes. 

The utility also says that seven tons of water leaked from the No. 6 reactor.

The company says that the leakages apparently occurred after frozen water in pipes loosened the pipes' connections or broke some parts. The company adds that the leaked water did not contain radioactive materials or had already been processed to remove them.

Similar water leaks occurred in three locations at the plant on the previous day.

Responding to the agency's call for preventive measures, TEPCO has decided to conduct frequent checks on early mornings when temperatures often drop below zero and protect pipes from the cold with insulation materials or heaters, if necessary.

The utility says measures are already in place to protect critical systems, such as those used for cooling reactors. 
Source: BNA