#Fukushima I Nuke Plant: 17 Minor Leaks In Pipes and Valves Found in 2 Days, Freezing Temperature Blamed

All are minor, says TEPCO, ranging from tens of liters to several tonnes, and the water leaked is either pure water, filtered water (river water), or the treated water. None found the way to the ocean, or so TEPCO says.

3 leaks were discovered on January 28, followed by 14 additional leaks on January 29, according to TEPCO. The lowest temperature at the plant on January 29 was -8 degrees Celsius (17.6 degrees Fahrenheit).

TEPCO's Matsumoto says the company will hurry up the insulation work, and hopes to finish it by spring.

Ummm, the frost will be over by spring, won't it?

Looking at TEPCO's press release, the leaks are mostly at the flanges. Some of the leaks from the reverse osmosis system have been found with high beta radiation.

Locations of the 14 leaks discovered on January 29, 2012:

Details of the leaks discovered on January 29, 2012:

The worker who tweets from Fukushima I Nuke Plant was talking about the leak on Twitter last night, and he said that the suggestion of insulation and heaters when the hoses were installed last summer was turned down, because of budget concern.

TEPCO's modus operandi since March 11, 2011 in English: "lock the stable door after the horse has bolted".

In Japanese: 泥棒を捕らえて縄をなう (Catch the thief and then start making the rope to bind him.)

Some photos from TEPCO on the leaky flanges covered with plastic (to prevent further leaking), with blue tarps lying around:

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