(UPDATED) #Fukushima I Nuke Plant Reactor 4's Skimmer Surge Tank Water Level Going Down At 5 Times the Normal Pace

UPDATE: translation of TEPCO's email to the members of the press who have signed up to receive notification of emergencies is posted in this post. It's not for so-called "mass media", it is for any journalist who has signed up for the notification from TEPCO." In fact, I got the link from an independent news media.

Again, it is NOT the water level of the SFP but of the skimmer surge tank, as some people are clearly confused that SFP's water level is dropping.

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From ANA (Asahi TV) News (1/1/2012):

【原発】福島第一4号機プール隣接施設で水漏れか

Water leaking in the facility adjacent to the Spent Fuel Pool in Reactor 4 in Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant?

福島第一原発4号機の使用済み燃料プールに隣接するタンクで、水位が通常の5倍近い速さで低下しているのが確認されました。東京電力は、原因の特定を急いでいます。

It has been confirmed that the water level is getting lower in the tank adjacent to the 4 Spent Fuel Pool in Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant at a pace 5 times faster than normal. TEPCO is trying to identify the cause as soon as possible.

　 1日午後5時30分ごろ、4号機の使用済み燃料プールに隣接する「スキマサージタンク」の水位が比較的速く低下しているのが見つかりました。普段でも蒸発などで低下しますが、その5倍の速さでした。これまでに、プールの循環冷却システムや原子炉建屋の周辺で水漏れは見つかっていません。プール自体の冷却は続いていて、温度や水位に変化はないということです。東京電力では、配管の接合部などの調査を行い、タンクの水位低下の原因の特定を急いでいます。

At 5:30PM on January 1, the water level of the "skimmer surge tank" next to the Spent Fuel Pool in Reactor 4 was found to be going down at a relatively rapid pace. The water level goes down due to evaporation, but the speed was 5 times faster than the rate of evaporation. No leak has been discovered in the SFP's cooling system or around the reactor building. The cooling of the SFP continues, and there is no change in the temperature and the water level [in the SFP]. TEPCO is conducting the inspection of the pipe joints, trying to identify the cause of the dropping water level in the skimmer surge tank.

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