Lessons from pollution load
investigations in water bodies of Japan

Koichi FUJIE, Advisor to WEPA
Adjunct Professor, Institute of Advanced Sciences, Yokohama National University
Presentation at the Consultation Meeting on the WEPA Action Programme
11 December 2019 Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Basic and general approaches
to create sound water environment1)Policy making based on the reliable and quantitative evidences
and the preference of stakeholders →EBPM！
→Inventory analyses of pollution sources and the understandingof surrounding environment are essential for the policy making.
2)Capacity/capability and governance to implement the policy→Framework and operation system with appropriate humanresources are essential for the implementation of the policy.
3)Strategies and technologies to reduce pollution load while
improving the productivities→Process(activities) improvement for both the reduction ofpollutants and the increase the productivity before considering
the improvement of the treatment of wastewater and wastes.
4)Appropriate monitoring and evaluation of the water environment
for the further the improvement of environment.

The Sooner, the better!
for the creation of sound water environment

Japan have to confess shameful experiences in environmental pollution

Air and Water pollutions caused by industries in Kitakyushu（北九州市）in 1960s

Belated countermeasure expands the damage of environment andincreases the cost of recovery, and thus be censured dreadfully.
☑Huge cost and long time are required for the recovery of damaged
environment.
☑The sooner transaction/countermeasure, the better to reduce
damage and thus the cost of recovery.

Aerial photograph of Kita-Kyushu Area in 1960s and 2000s

Steelworks

Steel industry

Dreadfully polluted costal area in 1960s
Remediated costal areafrom Google®

Dreadful water pollution and the recovery in Tokyo area
Comparison of pictures taken in 1960s and at present (1)Bubbles and foam on the river water caused by detergent

Fishes incept algae attachedon the riverbed and go up

Tama river(多摩川) in 1960s
https://www.jiji.com/jc/d4?p=mos002-01505348&d=004soc

Aerial picture of Tama river at present (from Google®)Dreadful water pollution and the recovery in Tokyo area
Comparison of pictures taken in 1960s and at present (2)Picture of Sumida river at present

Dreadfullyhttps://twitter.com/SumidaTerrace/status/1029241692019253248
polluted river in downtown of Tokyo in 1960s
http://www.kankyo.metro.tokyo.jp/data/photo/scenery/water/film_13.html

Serious Four Pollution Issues in Japan
Japan had four major pollution-caused illnesses

such as Minamata-disease, Niigata Minamata-disease, Itai-itai disease and Yokkaichi asthma.

Caused by cadmiumin the drainage from
Kamioka Mine

Caused by methylmercury (CH3-Hg)
discharged from acetaldehyde(CH3CHO) production process

Caused by methylmercury(CH3-Hg) the same as
Minamata disease

Caused by SOX,
NOX in the exhaustgas from industries

Economic loss without considerationof the environment
Consideration and countermeasures for the conservation of environment wereinsufficient in Japan before 1965s. Serious environmental problems had occurred.

The Industry clamped down on
expenditure for the environmental
conservation!

☑Pollution sources (industries) did not spend enoughmoney for the environmental conservation.

☑Government did not have appropriate frameworkand strategies for the environmental conservation.
Source: Japan’s experienceWater use and environment in the watershed
Siem Reap area
Pollutants from various
activities in the upstream Urbanized area
River

Pollution sources

Mekong river

Water use for various
activities and the dischargeof effluent to the water
body in the upstream

Agriculture(paddy)

Pollution load
Tonle Sap Great Lake
Characterization of the lake
1)Shallow lake(depth:1～9m)
2)Backward water flow from the Mekong3)Big seasonal change in water level4)Eutrophication and phytoplankton5)Fish farming as protein source6)A lot of floating houses

Appropriate advices to the pollution
sources for both the improvement of theactivities and the reduction of pollutants
discharge are essential

Forest zone
Backward flow

Pollution load

Phnom Penh area

Today’s topics for the creation and conservation of sound water environment
1)History of water environment conservation policy and countermeasures in Japan
2)Cost-effective approach for both the improvement of the activities and the reduction ofpollutants based on the material flow analysis of the pollution sourcesHistory of Water Environment Conservation Policy
and Activities in Japan(1)
55s

60s

70s
80s
90s
00s
’67:Basic law for environm ent pollution ’93:Basic environm ent law’57:W ater supply law(水道法)’58:Sewage law(下水道法)‘58:"Old
two laws
concerning
water quality
control" introduced for industrial wastewater control’58:Industrial
water
supply businesslaw(工業用水道事業法)’70:W aste Disposal and Public Cleansing Law(廃棄物処理法)’70:Law relating to the prevention of m arine pollution andQuality standards for tap
m aritim e disaster(海洋汚染およ び海洋災害の防止に関する 法律)
water, discharge
controllaw(水質汚濁防止法)’79:W ater
pollution
control law(水質汚濁防止法)
standards and effluent ’70:Water pollution’84:Law concerning special m easures forstandard for sewage wereset by those legislations
conservation for lake water quality
Water supply and sewerage projects(湖沼水質保全特別措置法)
have been promoted more strongly forStandards
for the quality of wastewater’‘94:Law concerning special m easures fortheinfrastructure
improvements.
from factories and plants were set
conservation of drinking water source
Nationwide coveragein ’65, ‘90 and ‘17(水道水源特別措置法)
Water supply:69.4%→excreta
98％
Beginning (dawn) of the’99:Law→
on95.8%
livestock
Sewage:8.3%→ 43.8%→recycle
79%
environmental water quality
m anagement andcontrol in Japan’00:Basic law for establishing therecycle -based societyHistory of Water Environment Conservation Policy
and Activities in Japan(2)
55s

60s

70s
80s
90s
00s
’67:Basic law for environmTheseent pollution’93:Basic environm
ent law andlaws encouraged
the development
commercialization of advanced technologies to’57:W ater supply law(水道法)
remove COD, nitrogen and phosphorus.
’58:Sewage law(下水道法)’58:Industrial water supply business law(工業用水道事業法)’70:W aste Disposal and Public Cleansing Law(廃棄物処理法)
Authentic water’70:Law relating to the prevention of m arine pollution andpollution control
m aritim e disaster(海洋汚染およ び海洋災害の防止に関する 法律)’70:Water pollution
controllaw(水質汚濁防止法)’79:W ater
pollution
control law(水質汚濁防止法)’84:Law concerning special m easures for
Factoriesand establishments
moreconservation
for lake water
quality
Late ‘70s to ‘80s, total pollutant load3
than 50m/d wastewater arecontrol (TPLC) of COD began in the(湖沼水質保全特別措置法)
responsible
to TPLC special m easures for’closed sea areas including Tokyo Bay,
‘94:Law concerning
Ise Bay and the Seto Inland Sea.
conservation of drinking water source
TPLC: regulated by both C value(水道水源特別措置法)(concentration) and Q value (volume of’99:Law on livestock excreta
specific wastewater)
m anagem ent and recycle’00:Basic law for establishing the
N and P are regulated by TPLC as wellrecycle -based society
to prevent eutrophication in those seasfrom ‘01

Environmental Conservation Activities in ‘90s & ‘00s
In 1990s, "Basic Environment Law" was legislated to set various
water quality standards such as;"Drinking Water Sources Law“
"Laws Concerning Special Measures for Conservation of Drinking
Water Sources""Law on Livestock Excreta Management and Recycling"
were enacted to keep water sources from being polluted.
In 2000s, pollution caused by hazardous substances began
posing new problems. To solve such problems;"Law Concerning Special Measures against Dioxins""Soil Contamination Countermeasures Law“
were enacted.
Furthermore, environmental quality standards for water werealso established for the preservation of aquatic plants/animals,
tightening the regulations for the protection and improvement ofwater environment.

Water pollution control law and the governance
Qualification/certification required
Assignment of Pollution
Control Manager (Q>1000m3/d)

Specified facility☑use toxic substance?
☑wastewater Q(m3/d)>50?
□other conditions?

Water Pollution Control Law
Report of manager name

Designation as specified facility

On-site inspection,
guidance & enforcement
Wastewater

Factory
Public water body×

Water pollution control
authorities(local government)

Report of the observed data

Self-monitoring and reportby the specified facility

Treatment
facility

Effluent

Where
is fish?

×

Monitoringby authorities
Factories having specified facilities at the side are classified as specified factories

Onsite wastewater treatment and recycle system
Conventional combined and integrated treatment
Process water

To meet more stringent
effluent standard, advanced
Products
high quality
cost treatments
Lessandeffluent
ProcessareneededHigh energy
consumption
DHigh operating costRawmaterials
Process

Process

ProcessB

AC

Mixed wastewater

Primary

Effluent

Onsite treatment and recycle
Supplement water

Rawmaterials

A

Recycle oftreatedwastewater

Reuse of treated wastewater

Consumption of processwater can be reduced

Products
Processa'

Process

Process

Process

B

C

D

b'

Advanced

Secondary

Similarwastewater
Similar wastewater are
treated after mixing

Pollutants from one
unit process are simple
and treated easily

Supplementwater
eEffluent

Simple but
advanced treatment

Water Pollution Control, Experience in Japan(2)Wastewater Reduction and Productivity Increase in Pulp and Paper Mills
Production

Water use
Water use/Production

BOD discharge
COD discharge
SS discharge

0100
Relative value to '75

200

300

Amount of water use for industrial production
This figure shows how much water was used for ¥1 million ($10,000) industrial production.

Energy crisis@1973

Energy crisis@1973

Recovery and recycle ratio of water in industries
This figure shows the increases in used water recovery for recycle use
in industry. Recovery ratio explicitly increased in around 1970s.
Energy crisis@1973

Energy crisis@1973

Transition of water use and recycle in industries

Recycle ratio

Recycled water

Fresh water Intake

Recycle ratio of water in industries

Industrial water use(×108m3/y）Nitrogen removal from domestic sewage
in Total Load Reduction area
removal of both BOD and nitrogen from wastewater
A2O and AOAO activated sludge process for simultaneous
removal of both BOD and nitrogen from wastewater
Anaerobic
degradation oforganic pollutants
to ammonia,
organic acids, etc.

Anaerobic

Denitrification of
nitrate and nitrite,and simultaneousoxidation of organiccarbon pollutants(BOD)

AnoxicN2 gasReturn sludge

Aerobic removal of
BOD, nitrification ofammonia to nitrateand nitrite, andmicrobial growth.

Aerobic

Off gas

Aeration

Mixed liquor recycle
after nitrification

Excess sludge

Reduction of COD load to closed sea area in Japan
This figure shows the decreases in COD loading into the closed sea areas inJapan brought by the incorporation of the Total Pollutant Load Control System.
othersindustries

domestic

COD load (t/d)

COD

Seto inland sea

Tokyo bay

’79 ‘84 ‘89 ‘94 ‘99 ‘04

Ise bay’79 ‘84 ‘89 ‘94 ‘99 ‘04

Fiscal year

’79 ‘84 ‘89 ‘94 ‘99 ‘04

Reduction of total Nitrogen load to closed sea area

T-Nothersindustries domestic

Novel issues brought by the
reduced load of T-N; reduction ofcatch in Seto inland sea.
Oligotrophication!?

Total Nitrogen load (t/d)

Seto inland sea

Tokyo bay
Ise bay’79 ‘84 ‘89 ‘94 ‘99 ‘04’79 ‘84 ‘89 ‘94 ‘99 ‘04

Fiscal year

’79 ‘84 ‘89 ‘94 ‘99 ‘04

Reduction of Phosphorus load to closed sea areaP

Phosphorus load (t/d)

othersindustries domestic

Seto inland sea
Tokyo bay
Ise bay’79 ‘84 ‘89 ‘94 ‘99 ‘04’79 ‘84 ‘89 ‘94 ‘99 ‘04

Fiscal year

’79 ‘84 ‘89 ‘94 ‘99 ‘04

How can we reduce pollutants load from activities
Material Flow Analysis (MFA) in business activities/production process for the
performance evaluation and for the reduction of pollutants
MFA in Tapioca MillMFA on the process

Process water(volume? quality?)
Raw material(amount?
composition? properties? etc.)
Products(amount? composition?)

Wastes/wastewater(???)

MFA on a production process will give you;1)Conversion of raw materials into products
2)Amount and composition of wastes/wastewater3)Thus the performance/productivity and pollution
load of the process can be clarified
Public water body4)MFA results are essential for the process
improvement and pollution reduction.

Reduction of pollution load while increasing & developing of the production!

Basic unit of pollutants contained in thedomestic wastewater from daily life in Japan
Foods, drinks
Household goods-detergents,-shampoo,-tooth paste, etc.
Input to household

Water fordrinkingcooking,
washing,
flushing,
watering, etc.

Wastewater from one
family of 4 members
OutputAveraged volume of domestic wastewater for family of four in Japan

Estimation of pollutants load into the lake waterfrom daily life of the floating and inland houses
Estimation/observationof output

Foods, drinks
Household goods-detergents,-shampoo, etc.
Water for drinking
cooking, washing…

Pollution load fromfloating house
Observation/rough estimationof pollutants: organic-C, N, P etc.

Impact on the water qualityof Tonle Sap Great Lake
Pollution load fromthe inland activities

Estimation of nitrogen load into the lake waterfrom paddy fields for rice cultivation
Nitrogen balance observed and partly estimated in the paddy field of Japan*
Nitrogen fertilizer
Precipitation
N2 fixation
107kg-N (acid rain) 6kg-N 34kg-N Rice：5t/ha(rice:61kg-N)(straw:40kg-N)

Influent nitrogen:29kg-N
Irrigation water:
10,000 m3/cultivation

Paddy field 1ha

Effluent
Penetration

Fertilizer
Influent

Precipitation N2 fixation

35kg-N

Rice and straw

Paddy field around TSGL
Accumulation

Effluent

To TSGL*Kazunobu Toriyama, Japanese Journal of Soil Science and Nutrition, 67(2) pp.198-205(1996) (in Japanese)Identification and quantitative evaluation of pollution sources andthe estimation of their impact on the water environment
Collect the information and data of pollution sources
and the pollutants based on the on-site inspection,
monitoring and estimation from MFA results.
1)Sources of wastewater discharge in various activities,2)Identification of pollutants and the concentration,3)Flow rate of wastewater from each source,4)Kind of activities, input, output and productivity,5)Rate of pollutants discharge par unit
Material (elemental) flow analysis in various activities
for the identification of pollutants and their amount perunit such as capita, product, activity, area, and so on.

Example: major loading rate at various sources
Pollutants discharge(example)
Category
COD
T-N
Unit
Domestic
100
10g/cap･dSewage eff.
30
15
g/m3
Paddy
－
10
kg/ha･yLivestock200
20
kg/cap･y
Agro-industry
100
3kg/t-product
Hotel
150
10
g/cap･dExample: Counter measures for the improvement
Agro-industry

Individual house

Category
Major sources & counter measures(example)
Domestic kitchen COD,N Sewage, DEWATS, etc.
Sewage eff.
COD, N advanced treatment
fertility management
Paddy
N,P
Livestock manure COD,N recycle use
Agroeffluent COD
bio-gas productionindustry
kitchen COD,N
Hotel

Planning of countermeasure to reduce pollutants
discharge from the source to improve the water
environment and its implementation

Livestock industry
Identification of pollution source
and the estimation of effluent
based on material flow analysis

Monitoring of water environment to validate theimplementation of counter measures

Drinking water purification process

Reservoir

Post-chlorinationSand
filtration

Sand basin

Surfacewater

Coagulation

Pre-chlorination

Sedimentation

Conventional process

Distribution

Reservoir

Adsorption

Post-chlorinationSand
filtration

Coagulation

Ozonation

Surfacewater

Sand basin

Pre-chlorination

Sedimentation

Advanced process

Distribution

Estimation of nitrogen load into the lake waterfrom paddy fields for rice cultivation
Mekong river

Siem Reap area
Urbanized area

Agriculture(paddy)

RiversWater use &Effluent

Tonle Sap Great Lake
Floating house
Backward flow

Pollution load

Results of the following analyses/estimations will beeffectively used for the appropriate policy making andthe implementation.
1)Inventory analysis of pollution source based on onsite observation and appropriate estimation.
2)Identification of major pollution source to be attacked
at high priority.
Phnom Penh area
3)Investigation of optimal countermeasures to createsound water environment by effective reduction ofpollution load.

Photo: Bay area of Yokohama City

Thank you for your kind attention！

Conditions and characterization of Tonle Sap Great Lake andthe surrounding area for the creation of sound water environment
Mekong river

Siem Reap area
Historical sites
Pollutants from various
activities in the upstream

Pollution sources

Urbanized area

Water use &Effluent

Agriculture(paddy)

River
Pollution load

Pollution sources

Tonle Sap Great Lake
Backward flow
Characterization of the lake
1)Shallow lake(depth:1～9m)
2)Backward water flow from Mekong3)Big seasonal change in water level4)Eutrophication and phytoplankton
5) fish farming as protein source6)Floating house

Essential advice to the pollution sources toimprove the process and to reduce thepollutants discharge is inevitable.

Pollution load
Pollution sources

Phnom Penh area

Experience of Metal Processing and Machining Factory
Kitchen and toilet
66.8mg/L wastewaters

Process wastewater
72m3/dMachining
743mg/L
3
Casting 36m /d
2309mg/L
16m3/dForging
3227mg/L
41m3/dOthers
90mg/L235m3/d
2120m3/d
171mg/L(1.06)

Oil-water
separation

Coagulation& Floatation

Mixing＊
69.8mg/L(1.12)

Rain, etc.

＊

Activatedsludge

37.9
mg/L

Sand
filtration

AC
Adsorption

BOD<5mg/L
Effluent

8.4mg/L
35.5mg/L(0.595)(0.26)
Regulation applied(BOD/COD ratio)

Concentration of COD in mg/L
Value in () shows BOD/COD ratio(biodegradability of pollutants)

COD<10(average)
COD<15(maximum)

Water Pollution Control, Experience in Japan(1)Reduction of water use and thus wastewater discharge
in polymerization process by process improvement
Month & Year

Jan. 1965

Jan 1973

Nov. 1973

Feb. 1974

Wastewater(m3/t-polymer)

36.2

17.0

8.8

0.2

Counter
measure

(A)

(B)

(C)

(A)Increase of polymer concentration in the liquid phase,(B)Wastewater recycle from separation process,(C)Wastewater recycle from catalyst washing and polymer
dewatering processes.

Energy Consumption in Sewage Treatment in JapanOn the basis of number of facility
Average：0.87 kWh/m3
Median ：0.63 kWh/m3
Mode ：0.45 kWh/m3
Number of data：785

Integrated frequency (%)

Frequency distribution of
number of facility(%)

On the basis of wastewaterElectrical consumption per unit volume of sewage(kWh/m3)

Environmental Conservation for Closed Sea Area
Regulation of concentration is

insufficient to understand the totalload into a focused water area.
TPLC has been introduced.
Every five years, more stringent
target values are applied for the
next standard/criteria of TPLC.

Factories and establishments morethan 50m3/d wastewater are
responsible to TPLC

Water use and environment in river basin
Water source

Water intake, treatment & distribution
Agriculture/aquaculture

Water use
in upstream
Sewage treatment

Water pollution
Domestic water use

Water pollution

Water usein downstream
Industrial water use

Sound water environment
for our life, water use
and ecosystem

Today’s topics for the creation and conservation of sound water environment
1)History of water environment conservation policy and countermeasures in Japan
2)Cost-effective approach for both the improvement of the activities and the reduction ofpollutants based on the material flow analysis of the pollution sources

Water pollution control law and enforcement

Lessons from pollution load investigations
in water bodies of Japan

Koichi FUJIE, Adjunct Professor
Institute of Advanced Sciences

Yokohama National University, Japan