Updates on Domestic Wastewater managementin Japan

KAWASHIMA Hiroyasu
Water Environment Division,
Environmental Management Bureau,
Ministry of the Environment, JapanThe 16th WEPA Annual Meeting (online)
1 March 2021

Facts and statistics of domestic wastewater management
Night Soil Treatment and Domestic Wastewater Treatment Systems in Japan

Ministry of the Environment2

Facts and statistics of domestic wastewater management

Cost for construction andmaintenance, per capita

Demarcation of wastewater treatment systems
Balance point

Centralized system

Decentralized
systemPopulation density

MOE

MLIT
Ministry of the Environment

Local governments are
responsible for Master Plan ofwastewater treatment scheme
including this demarcation ineach region.
3

Facts and statistics of domestic wastewater management
Statistics of domestic wastewater management
100%

Sewerage

Johkasou

Rural sewerage etc.

91.7%

90%

9%

80%
70%
60%
50%

80%

40%
30%
20%
10%
0%

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019Year

Ratio of people covered by domestic wastewater treatment system (2000 – 2019)
Ministry of the Environment

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Facts and statistics of domestic wastewater management
Living Environment Items

Improvement in overall trend, but achievement rate still low in closed water
bodies such as lakes and inland seas.

Achievement rate (%)

Rivers: 94.6%(2018)
Total: 89.6%(2018)
Seas: 79.2%(2018)

1874
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018

Lakes: 54.3%(2018)

year

Trends in achievement of BOD/COD environmental standard

Ministry of the Environment5Reference : Water Quality Standards (EQS)
Water Pollution
Toxic substance
Mercury, Arsenic,
Chlorinated organic compound,etc

Organic Pollution etc
Dirtiness and muddiness of water

BOD/COD, DO, SS etc

Nutrient salts
Causality of eutrophication
Nitrogen, Phosphorus

Effect on people（Drinking/seafood intake）

Effects on living
environment(including
aquatic life)

Water Quality
Standards (EQS)

Health Item
Nationally uniform27 substances are designated

Living Environment
Item
Designed to conserve theproperties as well as thefauna and flora closely
related to the living of peopleSet targets by categorizing
into classes in accordancewith water bodies
13 substances designated

Ministry of the Environment

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Regulatory framework for wastewater management
Basic law for environmental pollution control (1967)※Replaced by the environment basic law in 1993

◆Establishment of Environmental Quality Standard (EQS)• EQS for the protection of human health (Health Item)• EQS for the conservation of the living environment (Living Environment Item)

Water Pollution Control Law (1970)◆Overcoming “Follow-up” approach• From designation of regulation area to national uniform regulation• Unified national effluent standards + more at local level, if needed◆Tightening of regulations for compliance• Direct penalty for non-compliance of effluent standards◆Unification of law system in principle• Unification of effluent standards for all business (with some exceptions)

Ministry of the Environment

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Regulatory framework for wastewater management
Overall concept of water environment improvement
TargetEstablishment of Environmental Quality Standardsof Pollution 【Basic Environment Law】
Establishment of Wastewater Standards【Water Pollution Control Act】
Nationwide uniform standards

Industrial
Wastewater
Measures

Domestic
Wastewater
Measures

Stricter regulation on Wastewater Standards
Regulations on business operators【Water Pollution Control Act】
Notification, measuring and recording ofwastewater, on-site inspection→ Penalties, improvement orders and otheradministrative guidances

・Sewerage System Establishment 【Sewerage Law】
・Installation of Johkasou 【Johkasou Act】
・Promotion of domestic wastewater measures【Water Pollution Control Act】
etc.

Ministry of the Environment

National Government- Vision- Law & Regulations- Technical Standards- National Subsidies

Sharing Responsibility
Local Government- Master plan andimplementation- Ordinance- Construction, Operationand Management ofsewerage facilities- Advice and guidance on
Johkasou operation andmaintenance8Regulatory framework for wastewater management
Chapter II-2 Promotion of Domestic Wastewater Measures(Articles 14-5 to 14-11, Water Pollution Control Act) Responsibilities of the National and Local Governments

Municipalities must, for necessary measures for preventing water pollution in
Areas of Public Waters by discharging domestic wastewater , endeavor tomaintain the domestic wastewater treatment facilities, train the leader
providing education on domestic wastewater measures.
─ Prefectures must endeavor to implement measures covering a wide area in
relation to domestic wastewater measures.
─ The state must endeavor to give technical and financial aid to promotemeasures in relation to domestic wastewater measures by municipality.
─ Responsibilities of the Public─

The Public must, endeavor to cooperate in implementing state or local
government Domestic Wastewater Measures.

 Efforts by Those Who Discharge Domestic Wastewater─A person that discharges domestic wastewater must endeavor to maintainequipment to reduce the pollutant load by domestic wastewater.

Ministry of the Environment

9Issues and challenges, future targets/plans for proper domestic wastewater management

MDGs

SDGs

 Sanitary improvement
 Expansion of flush toilet(1960s ～ in Japan)

Current
johkasou Environmental protection

 Treatment of all domestic wastewater(Black water + Gray water)Less impact
with low
pollutant load

Publicwaterway
Old johkasou

Without treatment

Ministry of the Environment

Target 6.3
Having the proportion of
untreated wastewater

Heavy impact
with 8 times
pollutant load

Current type Johkasou
 To treat both black & graywater
 BOD 4g per person daily
discharged to public water
Old type Johkasou
 To treat black water only BOD 32g per person daily
discharged to public water New installation wasprohibited from 200110

Issues and challenges, future targets/plans for proper domestic wastewater management

MDGs

SDGs

 Sanitary improvement
 Expansion of flush toilet(1960s ～ in Japan)

Target 6.3
Having the proportion of
untreated wastewater

 Environmental protection

 Treatment of all domestic wastewater
Our biggest challenge!!!
(Black water + Gray water)

Still, half the number of operating Current type Johkasou
Johkasou is old type installed before  To treat both black & graywater
2001, harming the environment!!  BOD 4g per person daily
Shall be converted into current type. discharged to public water
Current
johkasouLess impact
with low
pollutant load

Publicwaterway
Old johkasou

Without treatment

Ministry of the Environment

Heavy impact
with 8 times
pollutant load

Old type Johkasou
 To treat black water only BOD 32g per person daily
discharged to public water New installation wasprohibited from 200111

Issues and challenges, future targets/plans for proper domestic wastewater management

History of Johkasou Act
1960 to around 1980

With increasing population of flush toilet, rapid installation of tandoku (oldtype) johkasou to treat black water only

1983

Johkasou Act enacted (legislation introduced by a Diet member, came into
force in 1985)1987

National subsidy program for gappei (current type) johkasou (to treat both
black and gray water) established

2000

Revised: New installation of tandoku-shori johkasou systems basicallyprohibited2005

Revised: Stricter water quality management systems introduced, defining
water quality conservation targets

2019

Revised: Action for conversion from tandoku johkasou (old type) to gappei
johkasou (current type) and for development of data base systemstrengthened

During high economic
growth period, waterpollution accelerated.
To promote the spreadof gappei johkasou andthe replacement of
tandoku johkasou
systems

Purpose of Johkasou Act

Promotion of human waste and gray water treatment by Johkasou for;- Conservation of water quality in public water area, preservation of the living environment andimprovement of public health⇒Articles in the Law ①Johkasou installation②Operation/maintenance of Johkasou③Approval of Johkasou models④Johkasou business for Installation and Operation/Maintenance⑤Nationally qualified “Johkasou technicians”⑥Miscellaneous and penalties
Ministry of the Environment

12Issues and challenges, future targets/plans for proper domestic wastewater management

Measures to accelerate Johkasou installation and conversion of old types
Subsidies from the government and municipalities
Johkasou Installation Project (private installations)

Subsidizes municipalities supporting their residents (private citizens) with johkasou installation
Eligible for support (40%)

2/3 (1/2)
Municipality

Individual share (60%)

1/3(1/2)
National
governmentJohkasou Municipal Installation Project (municipal installations)

National subsidy program for municipalities taking the lead in installing johkasou systems. The
municipality is responsible for operations and maintenance.
Eligible for national support (10%)

Individual
share（3/30）

17（12）／30
Municipal share

10（15）／30
National
government
Private installations

Grant
Support

MOE

Ministry of the Environment

Privatehomes

Municipality
Grant
percentage 1/3(1/2)

Installation
Municipal installations

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Issues and challenges, future targets/plans for proper domestic wastewater management

Promotion of Johkasou Renovation by MOEJ
 Conversion of old type to current type Johksou including in-house piping works.
 Streamlining of management utilizing Johkasou data base system.
Conversion to current type
Damaged upper side

Johkasou data base system

Damages or wastewaterleakages of old type (6,000
cases in 2016),
harming water environment
by discharging untreatedwastewater.

Local governments
・Installation notification
・Discontinuance notification

Cloud server

Conversion works

Maintenance inspection companies
・Inspection results
・Water qualities

Old type removal

Current type installation

Piping works

Conversion of old type, deteriorated andharmful to the environment, is a MUST!
Ministry of the Environment

Johkasou inspectors
Legal inspections
Artilce 7 & 11.

Streamlinig of Johkasou managements bygrasping operation & maintenance status
more thoroughly!

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Future targets/plans, issues and challenges of water environment governance
Effects of climatechangeChanges in river flow andwater quality, andobstacles to sediment flow

Improvement of peoplefriendly water spaces

Deterioration inaquatic ecosystemand biodiversity

Surfactants, POPs,marine debris,
coastal erosion, etc.
Seawater pollution, marine
waste

Ministry of the Environment

Water quality
improvement in lakes

Water quality
issuesGroundwater pollution
and soil contamination

Delay of water quality improvement
in closed water bodies
15Issues and challenges, future targets/plans for proper domestic wastewater management

Basic Plan on Water Cycle（June 2020）- In July 2014, the Basic Act on Water Cycle was enacted and the Headquarters for
Water-Cycle Policy, chaired by the Prime Minister, was established.
- Basic Plan on Water Cycle was established to comprehensively and systematicallypromote Japan's water-cycle-related measures. The first plan was formulated in2015, and this plan is a revised plan.

Priority initiatives under this Plan
1. Water-cycle innovation through river basin management“Further deployment of river basin management and improvements in its quality ”
2. Realization of a safe and sound society through sound water cycle initiatives“Responding to risks of climate change, large-scale natural disasters, etc.”
3.

Passing on an abundant society to future generations through a sound water
cycle“Awareness raising, publicity, education, and international contributions regarding asound water cycle ”
Ministry of the Environment

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Discussion topics

We propose the following as new information
sharing contents through WEPA in the future;- To share information not only on goodpractices, but also on inadequate examples andlessons learned.

Ministry of the Environment

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Announcement on the prevention of the COVID-19 for the Johkasou business workers in Japan“Providing knowledge on COVID-19” dated 10th April, 2020
 Purpose
For Johkasou site technicians such as inspection, operation and maintenanceand desludging works against COVID-19, Ministry of the Environment provides
information of similar viruses in water, the effects of disinfection, and the safety
and health management of technicians.
 RouteMinistry of the Environment18

Announcement on the prevention of the COVID-19 for the Johkasou business workers in Japan“Providing knowledge on COVID-19” dated 10th April, 2020
1. Basic information of COVID-19< General information of coronavirus and COVID-19 >- Seven (7) types of coronavirus which infect humans have been found so far.
- In 7 types, 4 types causes common cold and it’ is almost mild, and remaining 3 are
SARS which was infected on 2002, MARS on 2012 and COVID-19 (SARS-CoV2) on
2019.
- Generally, Coronavirus is known to lose its infectivity due to alcohol (70%)
disinfection, etc.
< Transmission route >- Droplet infection and contact infection via hand-rail, door-knob, switch bottom
and so-on which infected person touches.
< Basic infection prevention measures against contact infection >- Washing hands with soap, disinfecting with alcohol for hand.
Ministry of the Environment

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Announcement on the prevention of the COVID-19 for the Johkasou business workers in Japan“Providing knowledge on COVID-19” dated 10th April, 2020
2. Countermeasures against COVID-19, with referring theannouncement of sewage section in MLIT
< Virus inactivation in the sewage treatment process >- SARS coronavirus is inactivated in sewage at pH 7 to 8 in around 6 hours.
- Therefore, It is considered that the same type of new coronavirus can be
sufficiently inactivated in the process of sewage treatment (pH 7 to 8), which
requires the hydraulic retention time around 8 hours.
- The hydraulic retention time of Johkasou is around 36 to 72 hours (1.5 to 3 days).
< Effect of chlorination >- SARS coronavirus has been found to be less infectious and more likely to die than E.
coli when chlorinated.
- Therefore, It is considered that it’s possible to reduce the risk of infection by
applying chlorine after biological treatment for the purpose of reducing thenumber of coliform bacteria sufficiently.
Ministry of the Environment

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Announcement on the prevention of the COVID-19 for the Johkasou business workers in Japan“Providing knowledge on COVID-19” dated 10th April, 2020
3. General information for preventing the contact infection of COVID-19, withreferring the training manual for Johkasou maintenance technician.
< Blocking the infection route for Johkasou maintenance and desludging works>- The basic principle of infectious disease prevention is to block the transmission
route.
- Insufficient blocking of transmission routes can infect workers if pathogens arepresent in Johkasou.
- A typical medium for transmitting pathogens is "fingers".
- Therefore, as a method of blocking contact infection routes in Johkasou
maintenance and desludging works, Washing hands and fingers with soap etc. is abasic, effective and important method to block the infection route.
- Regarding daily methods at working site that can be used by technicians, below
items shall be implemented,
 - It is important to minimize the exposure of the human body during work to block the transmission route.
 Therefore, wear, cap, glove, shoes, mask, goggles.
 - Cleaning and disinfection for above after use. - For disinfecting hands, spray-type disinfectant solutions anddisinfectant supplies such as wet wipes are convenient to carry on. If technicians cannot clean or disinfect theirfingers, they can use disposable gloves to block them from the source of infection.

Ministry of the Environment

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND ATTENTION.
The 4th Asia-Pacific Water Summit(April 23-24, 2022, Kumamoto, Japan)
At kikuchi gorge,Kikuchi City,Kumamoto Prefecture
Ministry of the Environment