TEPCO Finishes 5th Treated Water Release for FY 2025 – nippon.com

Report on the Fifth Discharge of Treated Water from Fukushima Daiichi in Fiscal Year 2025

1.0 Executive Summary

This report details the completion of the fifth round of treated water discharge for the 2025 fiscal year from the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, operated by Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. (TEPCO). The operation was conducted in alignment with national safety standards and contributes to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning environmental protection and public health.

• Operation Period: Commenced October 30, 2025; concluded by November 17, 2025.
• Volume Discharged: Approximately 7,800 tons.
• Key Finding: Monitoring conducted by TEPCO and the Japanese government confirms that concentrations of radioactive tritium in seawater and fishery products remain significantly below national safety standards.

2.0 Operational Details and Annual Plan

2.1 Discharge Procedure

The treated water was managed according to the following procedure:

1. The water was diluted with substantial amounts of seawater.
2. The diluted water was released at a designated point 1 kilometer off the coast of Fukushima Prefecture.
3. The release was facilitated through a purpose-built undersea tunnel.

2.2 Fiscal Year 2025 Program

The current discharge is part of a larger annual plan:

• Total Planned Volume for FY2025: 54,600 tons.
• Total Planned Rounds: Seven.
• Current Status: This marks the completion of the fifth of seven scheduled rounds.

3.0 Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The management and monitoring of the treated water discharge directly support progress toward key SDGs.

• SDG 14: Life Below Water

  The operation prioritizes the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources. By ensuring tritium levels are well below safety limits, the program aims to prevent marine pollution and protect the health of marine ecosystems and biodiversity.

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  The extensive treatment and dilution process is a critical water management strategy designed to minimize the environmental impact on marine water quality. This aligns with global efforts to reduce pollution and safely manage wastewater.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  Safeguarding public health is a primary objective. Continuous monitoring of seawater and fishery products ensures the safety of the food chain and the well-being of local and international communities, preventing human exposure to harmful levels of contaminants.

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

  This structured and transparent discharge program is an integral part of the responsible management of industrial byproducts from the plant’s decommissioning. It reflects a commitment to sustainable and environmentally sound waste management practices.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
   • The article directly discusses the management and discharge of treated wastewater into a large body of water. This connects to the goal of ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation, particularly concerning water quality and the treatment of wastewater to minimize pollution.
2. SDG 14: Life Below Water
   • The discharge of treated water occurs “1 kilometer off the coast” into the sea. The monitoring of “seawater and fishery products” indicates a direct concern for the impact on marine ecosystems and the conservation and sustainable use of ocean resources.
3. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • The core issue is the management of radioactive material (tritium). The article’s emphasis on keeping concentrations “far below national safety standards” is aimed at protecting human health from the potential risks of water and food (fishery products) contamination.
4. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • The article describes the management of a waste product (treated water) from an industrial facility (a nuclear power plant). This relates to ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns, specifically the environmentally sound management of waste throughout its life cycle to minimize its release into the environment.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials…
   • The article details a process of treating, diluting, and then releasing water containing a hazardous material (tritium). The entire operation is a form of managing and minimizing pollution to maintain water quality, directly aligning with this target.
2. Target 14.1: By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities…
   • The release of treated water from the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant is a land-based activity with the potential to cause marine pollution. The measures described, such as dilution and monitoring, are efforts to prevent and reduce this specific type of pollution.
3. Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.
   • The monitoring of tritium levels in both seawater and fishery products and ensuring they remain “far below national safety standards” is a direct action to prevent human illness from contamination by a hazardous chemical in water and the food chain.
4. Target 12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle…and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment.
   • The article describes the management of waste (treated water) from its source at the plant to its release into the environment. The process of treating, diluting, and monitoring the discharge is a clear example of implementing environmentally sound management to minimize adverse impacts.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicator for Target 6.3 & 14.1: Measurement of water quality.
   • The article explicitly states that “concentrations of radioactive tritium in seawater” are measured. This serves as a direct indicator of water quality and the level of marine pollution from this specific land-based source, allowing progress to be tracked against “national safety standards.”
2. Indicator for Target 3.9: Measurement of contaminants in the food chain.
   • The article mentions that measurements are taken for “fishery products.” The concentration of tritium in these products is an implied indicator used to assess the risk to human health and ensure food safety.
3. Indicator for Target 12.4: Volume of waste managed and released.
   • The article provides specific quantities, stating that “some 7,800 tons of treated water” were released in the latest round and a total of “54,600 tons of treated water” is planned for the fiscal year. This quantifies the amount of waste being managed and released under controlled conditions.

Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: nippon.com