The water will be processed to remove radioactive contamination prior to release, although it is worth noting that tritium cannot be removed from the water. However, the radioactive isotope will be diluted to one seventh of the guidelines set out by the World Health Organization for drinking water before being released into the Pacific Ocean roughly a kilometer out from the plant.

The government plans to release more than a million tons of the contaminated water some time around spring of 2023. International authorities have been supportive of the plan, but concerns abound from local fishermen and farmers as well as South Korea and China.

In addition to concerns about the water's radioactivity, there are additional questions about the water's quality because of the amount of time it has spent standing in tanks. Some experts have said that the water needs further testing before it is released.