An underground ice wall will be built surrounding the 3 damaged nuclear reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant to control and prevent further contamination of groundwater and other water sources nearby, Discovery News has learned.

Construction of the ice wall commenced early this week after it was approved by Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority. It is reported to cost Japan some 47 billion yen, roughly equivalent to $473 million, according to spokesman Yoshihide Suga.

Like Us on Facebook

The method, which is commonly used in the construction of foundations for moist areas such as ports, will have some 1,550 pipes buried deep into the soil where chilled saltwater acting as coolant will be pumped and circulated into the pipes, freezing the soil and creating an ice barrier.

The ice wall is projected to be at least 27 meters deep and 1.5 kilometers long.

Scientists, however, are doubtful of the idea citing that this is the first time it will be done at this scale. They are also concerned about how long the wall will hold since temperatures run close to around 40 degrees Celsius during the summer, according to BBC.

The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant is operated by Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) and was reportedly one of the 15 largest nuclear power plants in the world. On March 11, 2011, 3 out of the 6 reactors experienced a meltdown after a tsunami hit the area which was set off by the Tohoku earthquake.

TEPCO uses holding tanks to store contaminated water used to cool down the damaged reactors. However, the tanks are being filled up fast and damage to the reactors has contaminated water leaking and seeping into the ground.

Last month, after inspection of contamination levels, TEPCO started releasing controlled amounts of groundwater into the sea to try to reduce the volume of the contaminated water.

Meanwhile, a TEPCO official announced that construction is projected to be completed in the first quarter of 2015. He added that the ice wall could possibly still be operational months after completion of construction works.

TagsYoshihide Suga, Nuclear Regulation Authority, ice wall, tepco, Tokyo Electric Power Company, Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, nuclear plant, nuclear energy, radiation, chernobyl, power plant, Pollution, water pollution, water contamination, contaminated water, tohoku earthquake, earthquake, Tsunami