The operator of Japan’s damaged Fukushima nuclear center has begun testing a process to release treated wastewater into the sea. Tests began Monday as workers examined processing equipment at the newly-completed seaside pumping center, said Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO). The water release is necessary to move forward with cleanup efforts at the Fukushima center. Three reactors there suffered meltdowns after a 2011 earthquake and huge ocean waves destroyed the plant’s cooling systems. The disaster forced 160,000 people to flee nearby areas poisoned by radioactive material. The water has already gone through a process designed to remove harmful materials. This is why the government describes it as “treated” and not “radioactive.” But experts say it is impossible to remove all the radioactivity. TEPCO and government officials say tritium a radioactive form of hydrogen is the only substance that cannot be removed from the water. They say tritium is not considered harmful in small amounts. Equipment will first mix the treated water with large amounts of seawater. The mixture will then enter an undersea passage, called a tunnel, to be released into the Pacific Ocean about 1 kilometer from the coast. The testing by TEPCO is expected to last about two weeks. After that, the pumping operation will need to be examined by the country’s Nuclear Regulation Authority. Those required tests are likely to begin in early July.
Title: Testing Begins on Release of Fukushima Water into the Sea
Content: <div id='article-page'><div id='article-content' data-media-url='//news-app-staging.s3.amazonaws.com' data-base-url='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5915/T16.wav' data-capture-url='//staging.analytics.lingraphica.com/events/capture_news' data-article-title='Testing Begins on Release of Fukushima Water into the Sea' data-article-id='6522'><script src='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com/javascripts/getscripts.js'></script><link rel='stylesheet' href='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com/stylesheets/article.css' type='text/css' /><div class='article'><p><span data-start-time='0' data-end-time='13000'>The operator of Japan’s damaged Fukushima nuclear center has begun testing a process to release treated wastewater into the sea.</span> <span data-start-time='13000' data-end-time='29250'>Tests began Monday as workers examined processing equipment at the newly-completed seaside pumping center, said Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO).</span> <span data-start-time='29250' data-end-time='37250'>The water release is necessary to move forward with cleanup efforts at the Fukushima center.</span> <span data-start-time='37250' data-end-time='50625'>Three reactors there suffered meltdowns after a 2011 earthquake and huge ocean waves destroyed the plant’s cooling systems. </span> <span data-start-time='50625' data-end-time='62250'>The disaster forced 160,000 people to flee nearby areas poisoned by radioactive material.</span> <span data-start-time='62250' data-end-time='70521'>The water has already gone through a process designed to remove harmful materials. </span> <span data-start-time='70521' data-end-time='77667'>This is why the government describes it as “treated” and not “radioactive.” </span> <span data-start-time='77667' data-end-time='85292'>But experts say it is impossible to remove all the radioactivity. </span> <span data-start-time='85292' data-end-time='98479'>TEPCO and government officials say tritium a radioactive form of hydrogen is the only substance that cannot be removed from the water. </span> <span data-start-time='98479' data-end-time='104708'>They say tritium is not considered harmful in small amounts.</span> <span data-start-time='104708' data-end-time='111479'>Equipment will first mix the treated water with large amounts of seawater. </span> <span data-start-time='111479' data-end-time='124458'>The mixture will then enter an undersea passage, called a tunnel, to be released into the Pacific Ocean about 1 kilometer from the coast.</span> <span data-start-time='124458' data-end-time='130583'>The testing by TEPCO is expected to last about two weeks. </span> <span data-start-time='130583' data-end-time='139646'>After that, the pumping operation will need to be examined by the country’s Nuclear Regulation Authority. </span> <span data-start-time='139646' data-end-time='146104'>Those required tests are likely to begin in early July.</span> </p></div><div class='control-buttons-sticky' style='display:none;'><div class='control-buttons'><button title='Back' class='back' disabled='disabled'></button><button title='Play' class='play' disabled='disabled'></button><button title='Pause' class='pause' style='display:none;'></button><button title='Forward' class='forward' disabled='disabled'></button><button class='finished-reading' style='display:none;'>Done</button></div></div></div><div id='article-media'><div id='media-image'><img src='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5915/T16.jpeg'/></div></div><div id='question-content' style='display:none;'><div class='sentence_completion_question question-container' data-question-id=19537 data-hint-location='104708' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5915/equipment_will_first_mix_the_treated_water_with__blank__amounts_of_seawater.wav'>Equipment will first mix the treated water with <span class='blank'>large</span> amounts of seawater.</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='large'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5915/large.wav'><span>large</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5915/charge.wav'><span>charge</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5915/minimal.wav'><span>minimal</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5915/laminate.wav'><span>laminate</span></div></div></div><div class='multiple_choice_question question-container' data-question-id=19538 data-hint-location='85292' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5915/according_to_the_article_which_substance_cannot_be_completely_removed_from_the_treated_water.wav'>According to the article, which substance cannot be completely removed from the treated water?</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='Tritium'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5915/milk.wav'><span>Milk</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5915/oxygen.wav'><span>Oxygen</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5915/seawater.wav'><span>Seawater</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5915/tritium.wav'><span>Tritium</span></div></div></div><div class='vocabulary_question question-container' data-question-id=19539 data-hint-location='37250' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5915/what_does_the_term_meltdowns_refer_to_in_the_context_of_the_article.wav'>What does the term "meltdowns" refer to in the context of the article?</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='The failure of the plant's cooling systems'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5915/the_removal_of_harmful_materials_from_the_water.wav'><span>The removal of harmful materials from the water</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5915/the_failure_of_the_plants_cooling_systems.wav'><span>The failure of the plant's cooling systems</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5915/a_sudden_release_of_treated_wastewater.wav'><span>A sudden release of treated wastewater</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5915/an_overhead_image_taken_from_a_satellite.wav'><span>An overhead image taken from a satellite</span></div></div></div><div class='question-buttons'><button 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