But 5 & 6 are at a significant distance from 1-4 and were not considered seriously damaged, except for loss of emergency power. They were among the first put back on grid power as well, IIRCC. I had understood that their reactor cooling systems were intact and in use. Is it appropriate to call the water that is intruding "groundwater" if it is rising because it is leaking from the plants themselves but the water table is saturated? The lower levels of the plant were likely built below the usual level of the local water table, given the location, but was the aquifer significantly contaminated before the earthquake? I seriously doubt it was that bad and suspect that most of the radioactivity in the basement levels of 5 & 6 would have to come from leaks in the cooling water pipes that have no place to go but into water that is starting to seep into the basement from the aquifer via cracks in the concrete structure.

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."