#Fukushima I Nuke Plant: 1,000 Milli-Sievert Water Flowing into Ocean from Reactor 2's Water Intake

(4/2/11 I have an update on this news, here. Alas, concrete fill failed. Anyone surprised?)

From Yomiuri Shinbun (2:52PM JST 4/2/2011):

　東京電力によると、２日午前９時３０分頃、福島第一原子力発電所２号機の取水口付近から、高濃度の放射性物質を含む液体が海に流出していることが確認された、と発表した。

Tokyo Electric (TEPCO) announced that it was confirmed at about 9:30AM that the water containing high level of radioactive materials was flowing out into the ocean from near the water intake for the Reactor 2 at Fukushima I Nuclear Power plant.

同原発付近の海水は高濃度の放射能汚染が続いているが、流出源は特定できていなかった。

Contamination of the seawater near the plant has continued but the source of contamination hadn't been identified till today.

　突き止められた流出源は、取水口の近くにある深さ約２メートルのコンクリート製の立て坑。もともと電源ケーブルの点検のために設けられたものだが、その中に、毎時１０００ミリ・シーベルトの強い放射線を放つ汚染水が、深さ１０～２０センチ程度たまっているのを、同日午前９時３０分ごろ発見した。立て坑の側面に約２０センチ・メートルの亀裂があり、汚染水が海に流出している。

The identified source was a 2-meter deep concrete shaft near the water intake for the Reactor 2. It was created for the inspection of power cables, but water 10 to 20-centimeter deep was found at the bottom of the shaft at about 9:30AM. The radiation level of the water was measured at 1,000 milli-sievert. There is a 20-centimeter crack on the side of the shaft, and the contaminated water is leaking through the crack into the ocean.

　東電は、立て坑をコンクリートでふさぎ、海への流出を食い止める方針。　

TEPCO plans to fill the shaft with concrete to stop the leak into the ocean.

Question: Where does that water come from?

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