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Business highlights

The METAWATER Group is working on solutions for a new generation, integrating our Group's strengths in mechanical and electricaltechnologies, joint research, open innovation with partners, etc., with the goal of more advanced technological development thatwill help sustain infrastructure and improve operational efficiency.

Electrical technology

Water environment controller "ZLS"

Achieving the high level of availability and environmental resistance required forwater environments
We have developed "ZLS", a controller for water environments that supports theoptimization of operation, maintenance, and engineering of ever-more advanced andever-more complicated water and sewage facilities.
"ZLS" has improved specifications from previous models, including an increased
CPU processing speed, reduced instruction execution time, and increased program
capacity. It also has application compatibility and allows for smooth inheritance ofprogram libraries when updating the water environment control system.

*1 Innovative sewage system technology demonstration project sponsored by MLIT

ICT technology

Demonstration research of continued stock management realization system technology ina cloud environment with maintenance data as original sources(FY2018 B-DASH Project)

Supporting the establishment ofeffective stock management amid
the ever-increasing number of aging facilities
We have demonstrated that continuous stock management
can be achieved through an ICT platform and cloud system thatmakes it possible to effectively collect, organize, store, and use
the maintenance data generated in day-to-day operations.
Demonstrators: Joint research group organized by METAWATER Co., Ltd.,
Ikeda municipal government, Ena municipal government
Demonstration areas: Sewage Treatment Plant in Ikeda City, Osaka,
Water Purification Center in Ena City, Gifu, and five other facilities
Demonstration years: FY2018 - FY2019■ Characteristics of this technology

ZLS

AI / ICTB-DASH Project*1

Cutting-edge technology initiatives

Utilizing cutting-edge technology to respond to an era of population decline,
contributing to securing the labor force and improving safety and productivity

Organization/
StorageCollection

Use

Demonstration coverage
1 Source data collection/organization system

Uniquecode

Use

Cloud server
System registry Library

Achieving effective
and continuous
stock management

Organization/Storage

Management and Operations Overview

Promoting development of products andsolutions for medium- to long-term growth

Collection
Regularinspection

ReportingSpecialRepair failures Investigationetc

2 Real-time evaluation andvisualization system

3 Performance degradation

simulation

Evaluation items

Current

Facility A
Facility B
Facility C

Planned sewage volume:
approx. 50,000 m3 a day

Degradation prediction model, etc.
Degree ofsoundness Past
5

Treatment equipment, etc.

New

43

Evaluation of degree of soundness
Preparation of stock
management plan

Present
Futureprojection

Available data

2

Also takes into account factors
1that degrade functionality

Time

1 Source data collection and organization systemEfficiently collect and organize (store) operations and maintenance data centrally in the cloud, regardless of location
constraints

2 Real-time evaluation and visualization system

Using the collected and organized operations and maintenance data, automatically calculate the degree ofsoundness and visualize necessary information for stock management

3 Performance degradation simulation

Create models predicting long-term changes in equipment operating performance and introduce aprobabilistic distribution for future equipment performance to help determine optimal timing of measures

With the above three component technologies formed in a cloud environment, maintenance data generated through day-to-day operations are used to prepare various plans, thereby
achieving effective and continued stock management.

Sewage technology

Demonstration research for advanced treatment technology through ICT andAI control of single tank nitrification and denitrification process(FY2019 B-DASH Project)

Providing local contribution solutions froma BCP perspective
In order to support the continuation and early recovery of the water andwastewater business in times of disaster and other emergency situations,
we are providing solutions for water supply and sewage infrastructureusing drones deployed at domestic bases and local contribution solutions
from a BCP perspective, with the aim of developing sustainable waterand environmental infrastructure through public-private partnerships.

Image recognition technology using AI
We constructed a system that can detect the equipment and inspection
objects necessary for ensuring safety at construction, operation andmaintenance sites, enclosing them in a frame.

Realizing short HRT advanced processing, reduced energy use, and reduced maintenance burden
A treated water quality equivalent to the A 2O method isachieved with short HRT by controlling the air volume
corresponding to fluctuations in the reaction tank inflow
load. At the same time, by using ICT and AI for integrated
management, the optimal discharge pressure for the blower
is calculated from the required air volume in real-time, andthe discharge power is reduced by controlling the dischargepressure.
Demonstrators: Joint research group organized by METAWATER Co., Ltd.,
Japan Sewage Works Agency, and Machida City
Demonstration areas: Naruse Clean Center (Machida City, Tokyo)
Demonstration years: FY2019 onward

Integrated calculation control system

Single tank nitrification and denitrification process

Automatically calculates required air volume for reaction tank andoptimum blower discharge pressure based on sensor information(corresponding to load and seasonal fluctuations)

Stable air volume control in accordance with load fluctuations
allows for treated water quality equivalent to the A2O methodwith short HRT (anaerobic parts installed for phosphorus removal)

Water
quality sensor

Remotemonitoring

Load fluctuation
following blower unit
Controls discharge pressure,stably and economicallysupplying airAnaerobic

Pressure gauge

Aerobic(Anoxic)

Aerobic

Air flowcontrol valve

Prevent entry into cordoned-off areas■ Characteristics of this technology
1 Realization of short HRT (retention time) through airFormation of optimal aerobic and anoxic zones in accordance with loads using ICT*2

2 Realization of equipment cooperation through the utilization ofCalculating the optimal blower discharge pressure from the required air volume in real-time,the discharge pressure is controlled

3 Realization of reduced operation adjustment burden by

Control parameters for required air volume calculations are automaticallytuned using AI (machine learning functions)volume control using ICTICT and reduced blowing power through pressure optimization

Water pipe bridge inspection using drones

responding to seasonal fluctuations, etc., using AI*2 NOx and NH4 meters are used in this technology

Ensure safety during night shifts with a single employee

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METAWATER REPORT 2020

METAWATER REPORT 202026

トップメッセージ
Business highlights

TopicsWater supply technology

Water distribution analysis system

The METAWATER Group aims to be a corporate group that is trusted by citizens, allowing them to entrust us with the water andwastewater business with peace of mind. To this end, the Group is working to improve corporate awareness, promote branding,Supporting rapid decision-making (BCP) for efficient water operation andstable water supply in the event of an accident
Online water pipe network analysis technology can estimate the status of water transition (flow rate, water level, water pressure, etc.) within
the network up to 24 hours in advance, supporting efficient water operation (water distribution plans) and quick decision-making in order toconsider countermeasures in case of an accident. Advanced scenario analysis functionality allows for various simulations and contributes toBCP support (consideration of operation methods to shorten water outage time, etc.), technology transfer and know-how accumulation, andsystematic inspection and repair planning of pipeline facilities (measures for extending facility life).

Wastewater
analysis server

Information LAN
Monitoring andcontrol system
Control LAN

Real-time operation data forwater and sewage facilities

Water distribution Water distribution
tank
tank

Water treatment plant
Water treatment plant

Water treatment
plant

Water distribution Measurement information(flow rate, water level, water pressure)tank

Water distribution analysis
system structure
ICT technology

Water distribution Water distribution
tanktankAccident

Water treatment plant

Water distribution tank Water treatment plant

Normal times

Water distribution tankAfter route switching

In the event of an accident, water can continue to be distributed using
a detour route with appropriate drainage volume and pressure

Correlation monitoring service

Early detection of abnormalities to reduce plant operational risks
As an option of the WBC* wide area monitoring system, signals are captured
from field servers (GSA) installed at each site, and when abnormalities during
plant operation are detected an alarm is issued at an early stage by makingfull use of arithmetic operations, comparisons, theoretical operations, etc.
The system can be easily operated by drag and drop to freely create formulas,and frequently used formulas are provided by default, enabling the user toeasily monitor the plant on a PC, thereby reducing plant operational risks.

and proactively disseminate information on the current situation of the water supply and sewerage industry, as well as our ideas,strengths, and achievements. We believe our business itself will lead to the sustainability of the water and wastewater business inJapan, which is one of the world’s largest, as well as improve our presence in the water and wastewater business.

Communication activities through participation in local events
The METAWATER Group actively participates inevents held at facilities we are in charge of and theirsurrounding areas all throughout Japan, striving tocommunicate with citizens.
In addition to holding quizzes and panel displays
regarding water at local events, we also host social
study tours for local elementary and junior highschool students at our water, sewage, and resource
environment facilities.
Aiming to communicate the importance of thewater and environmental infrastructure that isessential to our daily lives, we are also working withlocal governments and business entities to create
educational facilities, pamphlets, and other in-building
communication tools used in awareness-raising
activities.

Management and Operations Overview

Aiming to become a corporate group
trusted by citizens

Cutting-edge technology

Takizawa Water Treatment Plant

METAWATER Sewerage Science Museum
Aichi (Inazawa City, Aichi Prefecture)
Staff from the Group explain the mechanisms of a water Exhibition at a summer festival held at thetreatment plant through an in-building exhibition
museum(Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture)

Takizawa Water Treatment Plant

Ofunato City Industrial Festival(Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture)(Ofunato City, Iwate Prefecture)

Explanation being given on METAWATER’s Exhibition at a local industry PR event held
Ceramic Membrane Filtration System at a local in the city
event held at the water treatment plant

Brand activities through in-train commercials, radio programs, etc.

Correlation monitoring top
screen (image)As part of our efforts to increase corporate awareness and understanding, as well as to increase the value of water and environmental
infrastructure, the METAWATER Group conducts brand activities through radio programs as well as commercials on the train vision.

*Abbreviation for “Water Business Cloud” METAWATER’s unique information and communications technology
for real-time sharing of information and the analysis and utilization of collected information

Operation unit definition screen (image)

Commercials on the train vision, featuring quizzes onwater by the Miss Japan “Angel of Water”
Topics

FY2017 B-DASH Project

Guidelines for “Technology to improve the treatment
capacity of final sedimentation tanks”
In a demonstration study conducted at the Ryoshima Purification Center (Matsumoto City, NaganoPrefecture) in cooperation with the Japan Sewage Works Agency and Matsumoto City, a filtration
system was installed in the existing final sedimentation tank with the aim of improving the treatment
capacity of the system quantitatively or qualitatively without increasing the number of building frames.
As a result, it was recognized as a technology capable of achieving stable treated water quality
throughout the year and significantly reducing construction costs compared to cases where anadditional final sedimentation tank or where new rapid filtration equipment is installed. In December
2019, the National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management established Technology
Introduction Guidelines (draft) for this technology.

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METAWATER REPORT 2020

Filtration cassette
Washing wastewater
Return upstream fromfinal sedimentation part
Reaction tanksludgeWashing blower

Washing airSludge collector

Scope of this technology
Washing wastewater pump

We created commercials played on the train vision, by featuring Nanami Nishio,the 2019 Miss Japan “Angel of Water”, who presents quiz questions on water.
The quizzes were created with themes such as “Protecting water resources” andthe “Role of equipment used at water treatment plants”, and were designed togive people an opportunity to think about the importance of water.

Treated water
Filtration part Washing
To disinfectionwastewater facility
tank

Extracted
sludgeFiltration cassette

To commemorate 1,000 episodes of the program“Mizuoto Sketch”, a special one-hour program was produced
The TBS Radio program “Mizuoto Sketch”, which the Group has been offering
since 2015, is a program that introduces the water landscape in various parts ofJapan though narration and the sounds of water. In September 2019, a special onehour program was produced to commemorate 1,000 episodes. We have presented
original radio dramas related to the sound of water and selected masterpieces of
the water landscape introduced in the past to listeners all across Japan.

Actor Jun Kunimura
appeared as a
special guest on
the special programcommemorating 1,000
broadcasts

METAWATER REPORT 202028