A study involving analysts working for NHK (Nippon Housou Kyoukai/Japan Broadcasting Corporation), and University scientists, found that the initial effort to cool the reactors of Fukushima Daiichi, using fire pumper trucks, was a failure and helped caused the melt down of at least three reactors.

The researchers concluded that 55% of the water never made it to the reactors.  This is because there was no power.  Water entering the cooling system ended up in condenser units rather than the reactors, because the system’s pumps were not working.

Since the 11 March 2011 nuclear disasters Japanese nuclear plants, and local fire departments have been practicing cooling down reactors using fire trucks.  The study showed that if there is no power to operate the internal pumps in the nuclear plant’s cooling system, then at least half the water injected by fire pumper trucks is wasted.