Recent Progress of water environmental
governance/management in Japan
February 24th , 2011
6th Annual Meeting for WEPA
Nobuo Yoshida
Director, Water Environment Division
Environment Management Bureau,
Ministry of the Environment, Japan

Contents

1. State of Water Quality
2. Organizational Arrangement
related to Water Quality Management
3. Changes in Laws, Regulations, Standards
4. Challenges

Ministry of the Environment2

1. STATE OF WATER QUALITY

Ministry of the Environment3

Items of Environmental Quality Standard for Water Pollution
Health items

Item

Cadmium
Total cyanide
LeadHexavalent chromium
Arsenic
Total mercury
Alkylmercury
PCB
Dichloromethane
Carbon tetrachloride
1,2‐dichloroethane
1,1‐dichloroethylene
Cis‐1,2‐dichloroethylene

Living environment items
BODCODpHSSDO
Coliform bacteria
count
N‐hexane extracts
Total nitrogen
Total phosphorous
Ministry of the Environment
All zinc

Standard Value
0.01 mg/L or lessUndetected
0.01 mg/L or less0.05 mg/L or less0.01 mg/L or less
0.0005 mg/L or lessUndetected
Undetected
0.02 mg/L or less0.002 mg/L or less0.004 mg/L or less0.02 mg/L or less0.04 mg/L or less

Item1,1,1‐trichloroethane
1,1,2‐trichloroethane
Trichloroethylene
Tetrachloroethylene
1,3‐dichloropropene
ThiuramSimazine
Thiobencarb
BenzeneSelenium
Nitrate nitrogen & Nitrite nitrogen

FluorideBoron
1,4‐Dioxane

Standard Value
1 mg/L or less0.006 mg/L or less0.03 mg/L or less0.01 mg/L or less0.002 mg/L or less0.006 mg/L or less0.003 mg/L or less0.02 mg/L or less0.01 mg/L or less0.01 mg/L or less
10 mg/L or less
0.8 mg/L or less
1 mg/L or less
0.05mg/ or less
Sea Area‐ 2 ‐ 8 mg/L7.0 ‐ 8.3‐
2‐7.5 mg/L River 1 ‐ 10 mg/L‐
6.0 ‐ 8.5
 25 ‐ 100 mg/L etc.
2‐7.5 mg/L Lake‐ 1 ‐ 8 mg/L
6.0 ‐ 8.5
 1 ‐ 15 mg/L etc.
2‐7.5 mg/L  50 ‐ 5,000 MPN/100 mL

 50 ‐ 1,000 MPN/100 mL

 1,000 MPN/100 mL‐‐‐
 0.03 mg/L‐
 0.1 ‐ 1 mg/L
 0.005 ‐ 0.1 mg/L
 0.03 mg/L

Undetected.
 0.2 ‐ 1 mg/L
 0.02 ‐ 0.09 mg/L
 0.01 ‐ 0.02 mg/L

State of Achievement of Environmental Standard• Health Items：
Achieved Environmental standard almost over the country

1.6

環境基準値超過検体率（％）

1.4

Cadmium
カドミウム
Total cyanide
全シアン

1.2
1.00.8鉛 LeadHexavalent

六価クロム
Chromium

Arsenic砒素
Total mercury
総水銀

0.6
PCB

0.4
0.20.0
Ministryof the Environment
１．Stateof WaterQuality※2009年度公共用水域水質測定結果

5State of Achievement of Environmental Standard• Living Environment Items:
Improvement tendency as a whole, but still low achievement rate in
enclosed water area such as lakes and inland seas
100

Trends in achievement of BOD/COD environmental standard

Achievement Rate(%)

9080706050403020Total
全体Rivers
河川

10Lakes
湖沼Seas海域

1974
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

0

Ministryof the Environment
１．Stateof Water
Quality6

2. ORGANIZATIONAL ARRANGEMENTRELATED TO
WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT

Ministry of the Environment7Administration of Water Management
Hydroelectric power(METI)MHLW
Ministry of Health,Labour and Welfare

Johkasoh※(MOE‐MLIT)
Water supply(MHLW)

Sewage system (MLIT)
Fishery
Aquaculture(MAFF)

Environment
QualityStandards(MOE)

prevention ofmarine pollution by ships(MOE・MLIT)

River management(MLIT)

Water resource development(MLIT)

Forest maintenance(MAFF)

MAFF
Ministry of Agriculture,
Forestry and Fisheries
METI
Ministry of Economy,
Trade and Industry

Irrigation
Agricultural water(MAFF)
Industrial water supply(METI)

MLIT
Ministry of Land,
Infrastructure andTransport
MOE
Ministry of theEnvironment

Effluent restriction(MOE)

Restrictions on Permeation ofHarmful Substances(MOE)※On‐Site Treatment System of Domestic Effluent
Ministry of the２．Changesof Environment
Organizational Arrangement related to Water Quality Management

Restrictions ofgroundwater withdrawal(MOE・METI)How the Water Pollution Control Law WorksNationwide regulations o factories
or commercial facilities

Pre‐regulation

RegularRegulation

Emergency
MeasuresReport installation orchangefacilityy
g of specifiedpOrder toChange Plans

On‐site inspections & Reports collected

Order remedy
Order suspension

Measure and log pollution status of effluent
PenaltyEffluent regulations
Prohibition of water containing substancesclassified as toxins infiltrating into groundwater

Order to take measuresrelated to purificationWater Pollution due to abnormal
water shortage,g , etc

Order to takeemergency measures

Emergency measures & report of accidents

Order to takeemergency measures

Water Quality Monitoring Measurement Program
At Public Water Areaby prefectural government

Implementation of regular monitoring
Announcement of monitoring results

Domestic Water
Control

Designation of important areas
by prefectural government

Establishment of plan for promotion of implementationof domestic wastewater measures by municipalities

Totalpollutantload controlThe government’s “Fundamental Policyfor Reduction of Total Pollution Loadin enclosed coastalseasEstablishment of “Plan for Reduction of Total Pollution Load”
by prefectural governments and regulations

Ministry of the２．Changesof Environment
Organizational Arrangement related to Water Quality Management

9Progress in Domestic Wastewater Treatment• Rapid increase of sewerage population from 1970’s up to now
120
Population ( ×106)

Total Population

Human waste
Treatment Population

100
80
60
40

Water Supply Population

20
Sewerage Population

0Year

1910
Ministry of the Environment

1930

1950

1970

1990

Transition of Japanese population,and water and sewerage population

2010
10

Water Quality Improvement in Sumida River, Tokyo• Sumida river has relived as Tokyo’s representative landscapeby effluent regulations, sewerage construction, dredging ofcontaminated sediment, and diversion of water for purification
Sumida River became
designated water area in 1964
Tokyo Metropolitan Pollution Control
Ordinance was enacted in 1969

1971
Ministry of the２．Changesof Environment
Organizational Arrangement related to Water Quality ManagementToday

113. CHANGES IN LAWS,REGULATIONS, STANDARDSMinistry of the Environment

12

Amendment of Act for Conservation of Lake Water Quality○Stagnation oflake water quality improvement○Public movement, enhanced awareness

Policy intervention
needed for lake water
improvement

Added following option to existing measures
such as pollutant loads control and domestic
water treatment

Example of Kasumigaura lake

DesignatedArea

Decreasing pollutant load flowing into lake
（１）Establishment of effluent control area Designate areas needed to reduce pollutant
loads from farmlands and urban areas
 Development of plans for effluent control
measuresIn-flowRiver

Efluent Control Area
In‐flow River

Run‐Of（２）Revision of industrial effluent regulation

Run‐Of

 Applied pollutant control not only on newly
installed facilities but existing one.

Conservation of the Lakeshore Environment
Establishment of the Lakeshore
Environment protection area Designate areas needed to protect environment
for the purpose to protect water quality.

Others Process of public comments required

Ministry of the Environment

Run‐OfDesignatedLake

In‐flow River

Farmlands,
urban areas

Lakeshore
Environment
Protection Area

13

EQSs for Conservation of the Living Environment
Water pollution
Toxic substance
Mercury, arsenic, chlorinatedorganic compound, etc.
Organic pollution, etc.
The so called dirtiness andmuddiness of water
BOD/COD, DO, SS, etc.
Nutrient salts
Causative substances ofeutrophication
Nitrogen, phosphorus

Environmental Quality Standardfor Water Pollution

Effects on people

Health items(Drinking and seafood intake)

Effects on aquatic life
Living environment
items

EQS:
Monitored
Substances:

Zn
Chloroform
Phenols
Formaldehyde• EQS are decided within the concept of protecting living environment
such as water use associated with human life, plants, animals and theirliving environment
Ministry of the Environment

14

Amendment of Water Pollution Control Law (2010)
Examples of Effluent standard excess and unsuitable cases of data manipulation
Outline of the main unsuitable cases in recent years

H17. 2

A Corp.
(Steel)H21. 3

B Corp.
(Paper)H22. 1C Corp.
(Chemi.)

Outflow of water unsuited to the effluent standard
For 5 years , measuring that exceeds the pollution control agreement is rewritten in
the value and reports to the autonomy.

Recent increase of water quality accidents（events）
2000
1500

Source:MLIT
Water quality accident
in class A river
3 timesincrease
1000

The water quality data is rewritten below the effluent standard

camouflage the exhaust water diluted with river water and the analysis dataof the prefecture may lower

500

The measurement consignment company is instructed to rewrite the analysis resultof exceeding effluent standard0
H1 H3 H5 H7 H9 H11 H13 H15 H17 H19

1 Strict cope to non‐recording and record manipulation by industries and businesses
Penalty for the non‐recording of effluents or record manipulation etc.
※Currently, there is a penalty on violation of the effluent standard, but not on non‐recording and record manipulation

2 Prevention of damage expansion to water environment by wastewater outflow accident Enlargement of targets to obligate emergency responses in accidental water pollution in public water body
※1 Hazardous materials that are not included in the items of effluent regulation is added as wastewater outflow.
※2 Addition of businesses dealing with hazardous substances, but not under the target

3 Promotion of voluntary pollution control action by business Creation of businesses responsibility in order to prevent water pollution.
• Gripping effluent status of wastewaters• Implementing necessary action to control pollutants
Ministry of the Environment

15

Enhancement of Proactive Measures to Prevent Underground Water Pollution
Revised content (amendment)

Background of Amendment
 Continuous occurrence of groundwater pollution
cases including examples of wells for drinking waterpolluted by industries
 Most of cases are due to leakages from deteriorated
facilities for production and storage or artificial
mistakes Groundwater is precious freshwater resources
accounting for 25 % of urban water usage. However
it is hard to specify causality of groundwaterpollution, and prohibitively difficult to recover once
polluted(1) Enlargement of target facilities
 Facilities with storages of hazardous
substances have to notify their structuresand facilities to prefectural government inadvance to installation(2) Creation of obligation
to follow structural standards(3) Creation of obligation
for to follow regular check

Need to promote effective action to prevent
groundwater pollution proactively
Pollution case 1 (production facility)

 Infiltration of hexavalent chromium fromcrack of floor due to deterated pipe
joints in a metal product factory in 2007

Pollution case 2 (storage) Groundwater pollution caused whentransferring Trichloroethylene into a
storage tank in a mechanical productfactory in 2001

Ministryof the toEnvironment
Instruction
stop using wells for drinking by Local governments

Prevention of hazardous
substances from infiltrating
into underground fromfactories and businesses !
164. CHALLENGES

Ministry of the Environment

17

Remaining Challenges for Water Environment in Japaneffect of climate change
A decrease in river flow,
water quality, and obstacle
to sediment movement

Delay of water quality
improvement in lakes

Poor relationshipbetween
Human and water

Deterioration inaquatic ecosystemand biodiversity

Coast washing thing,oceanic garbage, andcoastal erosion, etc.
Seawater pollution, drift garbage, andthe sea garbage at the bottom
Ministry of the Environment

Increasing water
quality accident
Groundwater pollution
and soil contamination

Delay of water quality improvement
in enclosed seas1818

4 Viewpoints for the Future Action

GlobalLocal
Image of target suitable for water
environment in each community
Concern for familiar water environment
 Sustainable water environment conservationby community residents

 Mechanism that match for water
environment conservation and reproduction

Global connection of water environment
Risk management, Effects on economic
development (Deterioration of overseas waterenvironment can affect domestic water environment)

Global viewpoints for environment issues
International responsibility
Overseas application of Japanesetechnologies in water environment field4
viewpointCollaboration with others Importance of biodiversity
ministries, local governments, and Easy‐to‐use index for communities Consensus building process

community‐based activities such as NPO

Role of MoE
in water environment conservation
 Promoting sustainable and collaborative action
by giving incentives to various entities
 development of mechanism and humanresources deserving to water environment
conservation

Collaborati
Ministry of the Environmentve(COP10: Aichi target)Rehabilitation of water circulation (waterquantity and quality, aquatic ecosystems, waterfront),

securement of biodiversity
Actions to mitigate impacts on biodiversity
 EQS targeting on biodiversityBio‐productivity

Biodiversit
19yFuture Actions for Protection of Water Environment
1. Challenges needed to be solved immediately（１）Continuous reviews of EQS items related to risks（２）Water quality improvement in lakes（３）Water quality improvement in enclosed seas
（４）Measure for groundwater and soli pollution（５）Conservation of maritime environment（６）International contribution to water problem（７）Unregulated small‐scale facilities（８）Measures for domestic wastewater(Promotion of closer relationship between human and water)（９）Non‐point pollution sources

2. Actions to organize new policy framework（１）Revision of EQS suitable to citizen’s actual feelings (DO at the bottom, visibility, transparency, bacteria coliform)（２）How effluent regulations should be（３）Adaptation to climate change（４）Overseas development of water business3 . Development of water environment management toward new era（１）Securement of biodiversity and conservation of aquatic ecosystems（２）Water environment index to grasp local characteristics

4. Establish of foundation for promoting water envirnoment strategies（１）Accumulation ofwater environment monitoring data（２）Training of next generation
Ministry of the Environment（３）Technologydevelopment / application（４）Environment education（５）Integrated environment management（６）Securing management cycles of policies
2020

Thank you for your attention

Ministry of the Environment

21