On December 22, 2025, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) completed the 17th round of ocean discharge of ALPS-treated wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, bringing the cumulative total to approximately 133,000 tonnes since operations began in August 2023.
The latest release, which started on December 4, was paused after a 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck off Aomori Prefecture on December 8 and resumed the following day. Over this round, 7,833 tonnes of treated water containing about 2.4 trillion becquerels of radioactive tritium flowed into the Pacific Ocean.
To put the scale into perspective, 133,000 tonnes is equivalent to more than 50 Olympic-size swimming pools. The water has passed through the Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS), which removes most radionuclides except tritium.
Despite stringent monitoring and assurances from TEPCO and the Japanese authorities, the discharge has stirred concerns among fishing communities and neighboring countries over potential marine impacts. Scientific panels track tritium levels and other isotopes to ensure safety standards are met.
Looking ahead, TEPCO plans seven more discharge rounds through March 2026 under its fiscal 2025 schedule, adding roughly 54,600 tonnes to the current total. Each batch will be tested and reported to regulators and international observers.
As the release continues, experts and environmental groups are calling for transparent data sharing, long-term marine ecosystem studies, and dialogue with regional stakeholders. Young global citizens, tech innovators, and policy communities are watching closely to see how science, safety, and public trust will evolve in this ongoing chapter of nuclear wastewater management.
Reference(s):
Fukushima nuclear-tainted wastewater discharge tops 130,000 tonnes
cgtn.com
