Summary
ReportWEPA Outlook on

Water Environmental
Managementin Asia2012

Message from WEPA:
Water Quality Challenges in Asia for a Sustainable Future

Significant pressure and risks to the water environment
in the region
Over the past few decades, Asia has been a focal point for the world’s rapid
growth, demonstrating a 120% increase in GDP in the region and accountingfor 60% of the world’s population growth. Rapid urbanization and the swift
increase in population and economic development that are associated withunsustainable development practices have resulted in intense pressure on
water resources both in quantity and quality, as well as on aquatic ecosystems
in the region.

Need to ensure a commitment to water environmental
management in the quest for sustainable development
Significant time and resources must be invested to improve water quality andrestore aquatic ecosystems once destroyed. In many countries in Asia, water
environmental management targets and frameworks are already in place. Thatsaid, however, even now, organic pollution of rivers in densely populated areas
and eutrophication of enclosed water bodies, such as lakes, reservoirs andestuaries remain a serious problem.
There is a need to ensure that water quality management is strengthened in areas
where water environmental deterioration has been observed, and to promote andensure the swift development and implementation of water environmental management
in order to minimize the impacts of human activities on the water environment.

Delivering a healthy water environment for the Asian region:
Water Environmental Partnership in Asia (WEPA)
A healthy water environment is the key to sustainable development in Asia.
The Water Environmental Partnership in Asia (WEPA) is a partnership of 13
countries in Asia established in 2004 for the purpose of sharing informationand experiences to find solutions to strengthen water environmental
management in Asia, and improve capacity through these actions. Thismessage sheds light on the issues facing WEPA member countries and theaction needed to find solutions for these challenges, and illustrates the directionof future WEPA activities.

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WEPA Outlook on Water Environmental Management in Asia 2012

Challenges in water environmental management and priority actions
WEPA partner countries identified the following common action areas to be promoted in each country.
a . Review laws and regulations, and setting of standards in consideration ofsocio-economic conditions and the current state of the water environment.
b . Strengthen local management of water environment at the basin level.
c . Improve/strengthen scientific basis for policy making such as the establishment ofeffective monitoring and data storage systems.
d . Strengthen the control of water pollution sources such as by the promotion ofadequate domestic wastewater treatment and total pollution control load systems.
e . Stipulate polluter pays principle in water quality management and utilize
market-based instruments as an incentive for compliance.
f . Promote institutional and technical capacity building of organizations in charge ofwater environmental management at national and local levels.
g . Promote participation of private sector, civil society and communities in water
management and improve environmental awareness.

Preparation for the potential impact of climate change
One mid- and long-term problem that looms over the region is the impact ofclimate change on the water environment. There are many “unknowns” in thescientific knowledge we possess on the actual impact on the water environment,
and therefore it is necessary to ensure monitoring of water quality and improvedata collection and exchange systems to investigate the impacts of climate change.
Knowledge-sharing of scientific facts and potential adaptation measures are equallyimportant at both the international and regional levels.

Strengthen domestic wastewater management
There are two key questions that arise when discussing the improvement of domestic
wastewater treatment in the region: how to promote treatment of domestic wastewaterin areas with little to no access to adequate treatment systems, and how to improve theoperation and maintenance of existing wastewater treatment systems. WEPA countries
have developed the knowledge to promote domestic wastewater treatment within theirown socio-economic constraints. It is imperative for WEPA countries to share and learn
from such good practices and discuss possible applications to other areas of the region.

Future WEPA activities
WEPA will continue to facilitate the exchange of lessons and knowledge
among the member countries through existing schemes such as the WEPA
database and policy dialogues. In addition, WEPA will introduce new schemes
such as thematic group meetings and twinning programs among thecountries which have similar policy challenges. To pursue sustainable water
environment, WEPA will strengthen relationships with river basin management
organizations and other like-minded networks and programs.

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Current and Future Challenges
in WEPA Partner Countries
Nepal

China

Water quality of public water bodies is generally good whileurbanizing areas are facing increased pollution. The actual
implementation of regulations and rules is the challenge currently
facing the country. The lack of sub-ordinances and integration
among related legislations and policies have been major obstacles.
There is also a need to develop institutional and human capacity
to promote water quality monitoring for the development of ascientific basis for policy making, implementation and review.

Surface water pollution in the country remains
an issue, although China has been strengthening
the management of the water environment, andcurrent policies have incorporated ecological andresource-saving aspects. Drinking water source
protection remains a priority and management of
non-point pollution sources and groundwater quality
has been launched as a new priority area.

Myanmar
No particular water quality problems have been observedin the country. Many factories that have been establishedaround urbanized areas could become new sources ofpollution in the future. Dissemination of knowledge about
the proper disposal of wastewater and control of directdischarge from factories to river streams has been identified
as emerging challenges. There is a need to clarify the
responsibilities of different water related governmental
agencies and set up a coordination mechanism.

Lao PDR
Surface water quality in the country is considered good.
The quality of urban rivers could worsen in the future,
however, due to the inflow of untreated wastewaterof which volume will increase with urban growth.
Capacity and systematic coordination procedures
among responsible agencies for water quality
monitoring and management need to be established.
The newly established Ministry of Natural Resources andEnvironment is expected to promote and strengthen
better management to prevent pollution in the future.

Sri Lanka
A variety of water quality concerns has been pointed out inpublic water bodies, although significant water pollution
problems are not identified. Various challenges remain
to ensure implementation of water pollution control
measures. Specifically, coordination among different
agencies needs to be strengthened; ambient water quality
standards and classification of water bodies need to beestablished; and financial and institutional arrangements
need to be improved to establish systematic data collection
and a periodical analysis system.

ThailandWater quality has been improving, but is still a major
environmental issue in the country. Current focus ofwater environmental management is to strengthen
domestic wastewater treatment which significantly
contributes to water quality degradation. Futurechallenges include improving public participation;encouraging voluntary action by the private sector;
strengthening public-private partnership principles inwater environmental management; and inclusion ofbasin management approach.

4

Malaysia

Indonesia

Regulations have been successful in reducing waterpollution. However pollution in public water bodies
still needs further attention. To ensure a better
water environment in the country, it is essential tofurther strengthen effluent management, promotemanagement at basin levels, clarify the roles andresponsibilities of various ministries, and consider
better lake water quality management.

Water pollution continues to be a serious problem
especially in urban and populated areas. The recent revisionof laws and standards is intended to strengthen control ofpoint sources. Future challenges include establishing rules,
enhancing water quality monitoring by strengthening
technical and financial capacity, creating incentives forindustries, and promoting stakeholder involvement inwater environmental management.

WEPA Outlook on Water Environmental Management in Asia 2012

Republic of Korea
Water quality in terms of BOD has improved as theresult of investment in wastewater treatment. Undera restoration project of the country’s four majorrivers, many projects have been implemented which
contribute to water quality improvement. It is necessary
to ensure and facilitate current efforts to reduce
pollution loads, promote conservation of ecosystems,
and strengthen non-point source and chemical
pollutant management. Development of an enhanced
management system to cope with socio-economicchanges is a challenge.

Viet Nam
Unlike the upstream of rivers, downstream areas ofmajor rivers are seriously polluted. As a result of theamplification of legislation in 2000, environment
standards were refined, non-compliance responses
were strengthened and protection charges wereintroduced. Further challenges remain to ensure
better water quality management such as bydeveloping reliable information systems, choosing
appropriate technologies, minimizing overlapping
functions of different ministries and promoting a basin
management approach.

Philippines
The water environment in the Philippines continues toface serious pollution. Challenges to better water
environment include the development of appropriate
land use plans to mitigate and prevent pollution bothfrom point and non-point sources; management,
especially of domestic solid waste and hazardous
wastes; sharing of water quality monitoring data
among relevant ministries; water quality management
at basin levels; and incorporation of water quality
parameters in the development of river basin
integrated information management systems.

Cambodia
Water in Cambodia is not seriously polluted but isfacing increasing pressure. The government has beenworking to strengthen water quality management
by improving legislative frameworks and conducting
ambient water quality monitoring to improve scientificbase for better management. Challenges include
insufficient technical capacity and weak coordination
especially between government and industries, which
is necessary to respond to the increase in inflow
of untreated effluents that are associated with the
expansion of the country’s economic activities.

Japan
The country has successfully overcome water pollution
problems, but eutrophication in enclosed water bodies
remains an issue. As well, new inroads to further improve
the water environment have been made with therevision of the Water Pollution Control Low, as concerns
about toxic substances in soil and groundwater
have emerged. A more ideal form of initiatives toimprove/protect the water environment are neededin response to the diverse needs of communities
and recent social transitions, including ensuring anenvironmentally sound water cycle. As a common
idea behind the development of water environment
protection policies and to accomplish policy goals, four
different perspectives namely local, global, biodiversity
and cooperation should be kept in mind.

Common Challenges on
Water Environment Management
among WEPA Partner Countries
Legislation and Organisation: Detailed systems andcapacity development required in order to implement
a legislative framework
A framework for water environmental management has beendeveloped in each country, but detailed rules and systems (e.g.,classifications of public water bodies) need to be developed in somecountries to promote implementation and enforcement. Ensuring
compliance of effluent standards is also a common challenge.

Ensuring implementation of proper monitoring anddata management is a common challenge
Insufficient infrastructures, capacity of human resources andbudgets have been identified as barriers to conduct monitoring.
Maintenance of monitoring data and establishment of data sharing
mechanisms among different organizations are also common issues.

Coordination among relevant water organizations
and regulations
Coordination among relevant water organisations as well as withother sectoral organisations is a challenge especially for thosecountries that attempt to further promote water quality
management. Coordination with other sectors, especially waste andland use, is also identified as a challenge among a few countries.

Recurrent issue water quality management at the basin level
In many WEPA partner countries, water resource management at thebasin level has been promoted. Reflecting this trend, water quality
management at basin level was identified as a challenge.

Individual water quality issues
In addition to the management challenge, lake water quality andeutrophication, non-point source control, heavy metal pollution andgroundwater and coastal water quality improvement are identified
as issues to be addressed further. Consideration of emerging needsfrom society for creating new water environmental management
scheme is also an issue.
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Domestic Wastewater Treatment

Why domestic wastewater treatment?
Along with population growth and improvement in quality of life in the WEPA countries, there has been a remarkable increasein the amount of water used for domestic purposes. In primarily urban areas in the Asian region, there have been numerous
examples reported of domestic wastewater being left untreated or treated improperly, and then discharged into public
reservoirs causing water pollution. The domestic sector accounts for the greater part of the BOD load in most countries
and catchment areas. Hence, there is a great need in the region to prevent water pollution through treatment of domestic
wastewater.

State of domestic wastewater treatment
Asian countries, particularly in urban areas, tend to favour individual treatment under anaerobic conditions by septic tank, or
centralized treatment under aerobic conditions by sewerage treatment plants. Many countries, especially those with urgent
needs and with low sewerage treatment coverage, are establishing national plans on development of domestic wastewater
treatment facilities with specific targets.

Sewerage Treatment Coverage (%)

Figure 1. Service coverage ratio of sewerage treatment in Asia
100
80
60
40
20
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p
Ko ub
re lica ( of20
Ja
pa 10)n
Ch (201
in
0)
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20
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ay
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(2
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01
ai
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)**
la
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Vi
(2
et
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Na
8)
Ph
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ilip
(2
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10
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ya
20
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ar
(2
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In
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(2
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La
20
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R
Sr
(
20
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10
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(2
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Sewerage Treatment Coverage
Figure 1 shows the latest sewerage treatment
coverage rates for domestic wastewater in WEPA
countries. As a result of investment, the seweragetreatment coverage rate in the Republic of Korea
and Japan exceeds 75%. The rate in Malaysia(peninsular Malaysia and municipalities only) andurban areas of China falls in the 60-70% range andThailand’s coverage rate falls in the 20% range. On
the other hand, the sewerage treatment coveragerate is less than 10% in other WEPA partnercountries. Construction of sewerage treatment
facilities is mainly being carried out in urban areas.

*Chinese data is only for urban area **Except in Sabah and Sarawak province

Septic Tank Coverage
In areas without access to sewerage treatment
services, treatment using individual septic
tanks is common mainly in urban areas. Table 1
illusrates the coverage ratio in selected countries
and cities. While data is not complete for all
countries, it can be surmised that in countries
where the coverage rate of sewerage treatment
is low, the coverage rate for septic tanks isparticularly high in urban areas.

Table 1. Septic tank coverage ratio in selected areas/countries
Country

Year

Area

Coverage Ratio (%)

National Average

41

Urban Area

79

Viet Nam2008

Rural Area

26

Malaysia

2010

National Average

21

Philippines

2010

Manila71

Sri Lanka

N/A

Kandy

87

For references, please see the WEPA Outlook 2012. http://www.wepa-db.net/

6

WEPA Outlook on Water Environmental Management in Asia 2012

Issues and Future Challenges● BOD removal rates for treatment by septic tanks are lower than that of sewerage treatment. In some cities, only black water istreated in septic tanks and grey water is discharged untreated. We must learn how to promote domestic wastewater
treatment in the area that have no access to sewerage services and minimize the impact on water environment.
● Long-term and large-scale investment is required for the construction of large-scale sewerage system. Therefore, we must
look at approaches feasible and sustainable under the socio-economic conditions of developing countries in Asia.
● Development of domestic wastewater treatment systems has not always been well promoted, partly because of low income
levels and low public awareness about the conservation of the water environment in developing Asia. Reported challenges
include the lower number of households connected to existing domestic wastewater treatment system than expected;
difficulties in collecting user fees from connected households; and maintenance problems.

Good Practices in Sewerage Treatment ofDomestic Wastewater
Considering local socio-economic conditions in the region, WEPA
countries demonstrate that the following approaches are useful insolving domestic wastewater treatment issues, based on their own
individual experiences.

01

Preparing a national development plan for sewerage system
and identifying priority regions considering local conditions
such as population density or variability in the water
environment;

02

Development of small-scale treatment facilities in a decentralizedmanner. Other useful options include the promotion of upgradesfor existing infrastructure and utilization of empty space in existing
infrastructure to construct treatment plants in areas that facefinancial and land-use constraints.

03

Photo: Case of Community Involvement into Constructionof Domestic Small Scale Wastewater Treatment Plant inIndonesia (SANIMAS) implemented by Ministry of
Public Works in Cooperation with BORDA(Source: BORDA)
Community or private sector involvement in the operation of sewerage.

Important Points to Consider when Examining and Sharing Various Policy Options to
Promote Domestic Wastewater Treatment● WEPA countries have gained a great deal of experience in examining and developing feasible policy options for domestic
wastewater treatment under various socio-economic constraints. WEPA countries are able to showcase a number of goodpractices which effectively promote the involvement of the public sector and communities in the construction and operationof sewerage system.
● There is no single pathway to sustainable domestic wastewater treatment: different policy options should be applied for
differing socio-economic conditions in Asia.
● WEPA supports this manner of learning from these types of experiences, sharing useful knowledge and has a new
appreciation of the importance of discussing applications to other areas.

7

Climate Change and the Water Environment

Climate Change and the Water Environment
Climate change is a major factor to impact the future of the world’s water resources. Projected impacts include:● Degradation of water quality resulting from rising water temperatures or reduced flow volume;● Increasing water pollution and health risks associated with untreated wastewater and landslides which occur during
disasters including floods;● Impacts on ecosystems from rising atmospheric/water temperatures and reduced precipitation;● Indirect impacts from changes in water consumption rates and patterns (e.g. impact on health from excess groundwater
extraction and drinking polluted groundwater).

Climate change impacts on inland water quality

The Momoge Wetland in the Songnen
Plain dried up due to the recurrent
droughts from 1999 to 2001, as well as
construction upstream and improper useof groundwater. (Cruz. et al. 2007)

Exotic tropical fish species appeared in
Korean marine water, such as a large
stingray with a wingspan greater thanpreviously witnessed, while traditional
winter fishes such as pollack aredisappearing. (Jung, 2005).

Japan
243 lakes in the northern China
disappeared due to climate change
and human activities. (Ma et al. 2010)

Republic of
Korea
China

In Pong River water temperature
showed a similar increasing trend with
ambient temperature.
(Wirojanagud et al. 2007)

Nepal

Myanmar
Massive coral bleaching due to higher
temperature in the Andaman Sea.
(Wipatayothin, 2010)

Lao PDR

Philippines

ThailandCambodia

Viet Nam

Sri Lanaka
Malaysia
Almost 90% of corals died in shallow
water near to Jakarta due to an increaseof Java sea temperature.
(Hoeksema and Cleary, undated)

For references, please see the WEPA Outlook 2012. http://www.wepa-db.net/

8

Indonesia

In Brantas River, high depth of rainfall
has caused high TSS in the wet season.
(Sarjiya and Nurleili, 2009)

WEPA Outlook on Water Environmental Management in Asia 2012

Issues to Consider for Adaptation in the Water Environment Sector● Asia has already observed changes in its water environment that climate change may have contributed to. However, themechanism on how climate change affects the water environment is complex and not well understood, and therefore theimpacts of climate change on the water environment and possible adaptation options have not been actively discussed.
● There are a few examples of national level adaptation plans and strategies on climate change that address impacts on water
quality, while more refer to conservation of aquatic ecosystems. On the other hand, climate concerns are not well referred toin the water environmental management policies and strategies.
● Basic information and data are essential to incorporate climate concerns in water environmental policies and measures. The
most basic is the data on long-term atmospheric and water temperatures and water quality. However, through studies carriedout by WEPA, it has become clear that water quality data accumulation is limited in many WEPA countries. For example, only
Japan, Republic of Korea, Thailand, and Malaysia have a collection of river water quality data for the past ten years as a resultof regular monitoring.
● The studies also identified data-sharing is difficult with other organizations that have data for temperature/water temperature
and water quality, even when data is available.

Increased water temperature may
hamper winter mixing in Lake Biwa ,causing dissolved oxygen depletion at
the bottom layer. Population of anendemic fish species, Chaenogobius isaza(Isaza) has decreased as a result.
(Kumagai et al. 2003)

Severe damage to seaweeds in thewestern coastal area of Kyushu wereobserved, due to longer periods ofactivity of herbivorous fish with recent
rise in winter ocean temperatures.
(Yamaguchi et al. 2010)

Reduced growth rate of catfish andareas for catfish culture observed in the
mekong delta due to changes in waterlevel and precipitation patterns.
(Minh et al. 2009)

Required Actions: Although scientific knowledge is limited,“no regret” measures must be taken
To ensure that we have “no regrets,” the following actions should be carried out and examinedin the field of water environmental measures.
● Governments and all stakeholders concerned should ensure implementation of current
water environmental measures (e.g., pollution source control).
● Governments must strengthen water quality monitoring and improve datacollection/sharing. Monitoring strategies that take climate change impacts into accountshould be examined.
● Local knowledge based on experiences should be accumulated to compliment scientificinformation (e.g., empirical knowledge acquired from perception surveys to local
stakeholders, such as fishermen).
● “Preparation” for extremes should be strengthened; stakeholders must take into accountmeasures to minimize health risks brought about by polluted water from the increase of
sediment during natural disasters such as flooding, as well as discharge of untreatedwastewater and temporary malfunctions of wastewater treatment and water supply facilities.

Future WEPA Activities● Discussions and information exchange on common issues in WEPA countries will be
continued, and water environmental management will be strengthened to deal with thepotential impacts from climate change.
● WEPA will support improvement in water quality management in partner countries by
expanding its activities and knowledge base with the recognition that strengthening andimproving water quality management, in particular, is one of the most important
adaptation actions for countries facing issues with respect to enforcement.
● An archives page on “Climate Change and the Water Environment” will be created for the
WEPA database and improvement of access to data on this topic will be designed.

9Water Environment Partnership in Asia (WEPA)
Aiming to strengthen water environmental
governance in Asia

A sound water environment is a key
element to secure safe water access anda sound environment. However, many
Asian countries are facing serious waterpollution problems and destruction of
aquatic ecosystems, which have become abarrier to sustainable development ineach country.
Recognizing that the improvement ofwater environmental governance isessential to solve those problems, theWater Environment Partnership in Asia
(WEPA) was launched in 2004 by the
Ministry of the Environment, Japan. WEPA
conducts its activity on a 5-year cycle andthe second phase started in April 2009.

Japan

Republic of Korea

China

Partnership of
13 Asian Countries

Nepal

13 countries in Asia participates
in WEPA including Japan

MyanmarLao PDR

Thailand

Viet Nam

Philippines

Cambodia

Sri Lanka

Malaysia

Indonesia

The WEPA
1st Phase
April 2004 March 2009

WEPA Database – Information Platform of Water Environmental Management –Information sharing among stakeholders isa key element of good water environmental
governance. Recognizing the importanceof information sharing, WEPA developed
the WEPA database in the first phase, as an
information platform on water environment
in Asia.
The WEPA database consists of four parts– Policy Database, Technology Database,
Activities by NGOs and CBOs Database, andInformation Sources Database.

Technology
Database
Wastewater treatment
facility underoperation in Asia

Activities by
NGOs and CBOs
Water environmental
conservation
activities

10

Policy Databasewww.wepa-db.net
Information
SourceLinks to useful sites onwater environmental
management-State of water
environment-Legislative
framework, etc.

WEPA Outlook on Water Environmental Management in Asia 2012

The WEPA
2nd Phase
April 2009 March 2013

Utilizing the knowledge accumulated and the human network developed in
the first phase, the second phase of WEPA will further promote knowledge
sharing through workshops, bilateral dialogues between partner countries andJapan and twinning programmes, a process which contributes to the water
environmental governance of respective WEPA countries. Capacity development
is also promoted through WEPA activities.

Objective of WEPA 2nd Phase

Water Environmental
Management Review

Domestic
Wastewater
Treatment

Climate Change
andWater Environment

Knowledge Sharing for Finding Solutions

Twining
programmes

Workshops

Identified
IssuesBilateral
meetings

Annualmeetings

Identification of specificissues to be addressed

Solution findings andsharing of experiences

2009-11

2012-13WEPA Outlook on Water Environment Management 2012
The outlook is the flagship publication of WEPA which includes basic information on the water
environment and its management in each WEPA country. The Outlook is in principle publishedevery three years in the occasion of World Water Forum.
WEPA Outlook is available from the WEPA database (www.wepa-db.net)

11

The full report of the WEPA Outlook 2012 is available from:WEPA Partner Countries
As of March 2012www.we pa-db. n e t

Cambodia
China
Indonesia
Republic of
Korea
Lao PDR
Malaysia

Ministry of Environment
Ministry of Environmental Protection

MyanmarState Ministry of Environment
Ministry of Environment
National Institute of Environmental Research

Nepal

Water and Energy Commission Secretariat

Philippines Environmental Management Bureau,
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Sri Lanaka
ThailandCentral Environmental Authority

Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment
National Hydraulic Research Institute of Malaysia

Viet Nam

Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment
Viet Nam Environment Administration

Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation

Japan

Ministry of the Environment

Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment

Pollution Control Department,
Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment

Ministry of the Environment, Japan
Water Environment Division
Environmental Management Bureau

Institute for Global Environmental Strategies [ IGES]
Freshwater Sub-group

1-2-2 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-8975, Japan
TEL: +81 3 3581 3351, FAX: +81 3 3593 1438
URL: http://www.env.go.jp/en/

2108-11 Kamiyamaguchi, Hayama, Kanagawa, 240-0115, Japan
TEL: +81 46 855 3700, FAX: +81 46 855 3809
E-mail: contact@wepa-db.net, URL: http://www.iges.or.jp/

WEPA Secretariat