Tokyo Water Supply Deemed Safe as More Workers Hospitalized

March 24, 2011— -- Japanese officials Thursday sought to reassure the public about the safety of drinking water contaminated by fallout from the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant, dropping restrictions after radioactive iodine levels fell within acceptable limits.

The most recent readings at the Kanamichi Water Purification Plant, which provides water to Tokyo as well as five other cities, showed 79 becquerels of radioactive iodine per kilogram of water. The acceptable limit for infants one and younger is 100 becquerels, while for adults it is 300.

Earlier today the governor of Tokyo prefecture Shintaro Ishihara announced that all Tokyo water restrictions have lifted.

During a tour of the Kanamachi water treatment plant, Ishihara, who is up for re-election, drank a full glass of water taken from the plant.

Ishihara encouraged the population to remain calm, and when asked about Tokyo water, said "Tokyo water always tastes good."

The governor said he "does not drink bottled water."

But Japanese citizens are getting mixed signals as just yesterday tap water was deemed unsafe, and hours before the announcement bottled water was being handed out to Tokyo families and residents.

Meanwhile, three workers have been exposed to radioactive elements at Japan's Fukushima Dai-chi plant, with two sent to the hospital for treatment, according to officials.

The workers were injured while laying electrical cables on Thursday at Unit 3. The two workers sent to the hospital were exposed to radioactive elements on the skin of their feet.

According to Fumio Matsuda, a spokesman for the nuclear safety agency, the workers were exposed to radiation levels of up to 180 millisieverts, which is shy of the maximum 250 millisieverts that the government is allowing for workers.

Approximately two dozen people have been injured since the plant began leaking radiation after suffering tsunami damage March 11, with seven other employees having been exposed to levels over 100 millisieverts. Officials raised the casualty toll from the earthquake and tsunami to 9,737 people confirmed dead, and 16,423 missing.

High Anxiety Over Water in Tokyo