トップメッセージ
Introduction to business operations
Project Topics

Plant Engineering Division

Business topics Area-wide Sewage Sludge Recycling Project in northern district of Akita Prefecture

Sludge recycling facility begins operation

The Plant Engineering Division is engaged primarily in the design and construction of mechanical and electric
equipment for water treatment plants and sewage treatment plants at home and abroad, as well as the engineering,procurement, and construction of a variety of devices used with the equipment. METAWATER is a uniquecorporation with expertise in both mechanical and electric technologies. We design and construct eco-friendly
plants incorporating energy-saving, energy-creation technologies, etc. using electric technologies that maximize
our unique mechanical technologies and capabilities. Combining mechanical and electric technologies andproduct development expertise, we develop efficient water treatment plants and sewerage treatment plants,
save energy, and efficiently use resources.
Director, Senior Executive Officer
Executive General Manager of Plant Engineering Division

Noboru Okuda
External view of the sludge recycling facility

With regard to the “Area-wide Sewage Sludge Recycling Project in northern
district of Akita Prefecture”, which was awarded to a group of companies
represented by METAWATER, the sludge recycling facility was completed in
March 2020 and started operation in FY2020.
The facility will continuously process sludge generated in the northern districtof Akita Prefecture and produce recyclable materials from sewage sludge,
body waste, and purification tank sludge generated in daily life. This systemenables the effective use of sludge, which were previously incinerated, andstably produces recyclable materials over a long period of time, utilizing them as
valuable resources.
It is attracting attention as an advanced model that maximizes “business
continuity” and “contribution to the local community”, and contributes to thecreation of a new recycling-oriented society.

Major activities
●

●

●

●

Given
the frequent occurrence of local heavy rainfalls in recent years,‌
we identify rain clouds using radar installed on high ground, detect
cumulonimbus clouds at an early stage, and project rainfalls to mitigate
flood damage. In addition, we work to improve confluences of rainwater
and wastewater with high-speed membrane filtration technologies, which
contribute to elevating water quality in rivers and marine areas.
As‌ facilities continue to age and the population continues to decline, we are working on
joint research with the Japan Sewage Works Agency to spread alternative technology
for the primary sedimentation tank, which can save space, in order to respond to thegrowing need for consolidation of facilities and sewage treatment plants.
We‌ are proposing a number of energy solutions, including various power
generation technologies utilizing waste heat from digestion gas emitted
through processes of sewage treatment and sludge incineration treatment.
We‌ are contributing to building local communities that offer comfortable lives
through a disaster rehabilitation project on the coast of the Tohoku region.

Outline of Area-wide Sewage Sludge Recycling Projectin northern district of Akita Prefecture
SDGs
being
promoted

Project name: Area-wide Sewage Sludge Recycling Project in northern district of Akita Prefecture
Project method: DBO method (Design, Build and Operate)*
Project period: [Design/construction] May 26, 2017 (contract date for this project) - March 31, 2020
[Operation and maintenance] April 1, 2020 - March 31, 2040
Address: 1 Naka-kawaguchi, Kawaguchi, Odate, Akita (on the premises of Odate Disposal Center)*Centrally carrying out the design, building, and operation of a facility

Sludge recycling furnace

Implementing leading-edge technologies, including
advanced water-quality improvement technologies, energysaving technologies, and clean energy power generation for
degraded water purification plants and sewage treatment
plants enables stable supplies of safe and clean water ofsufficient quality and capacity through plant construction.

Sewage sludge recycling system
The sewage sludge recycling system makes it possible to effectively use sludge
and municipal waste by recovering recyclable materials without incineration.

Thermal decomposition gas
To incinerationchamber

Recycling furnace

Characteristics

Recyclable
material
recoverydeviceProduction of high-quality recyclable materials is possible
Constructing sustainable plants with downsized technologies
in response to a social environment with falling populations
and super-aging societies

Incombustibles (iron, aluminum, debris, etc.) mixed in with sludge and waste
are separated and removed in the recycling furnace, producing high-quality
recyclable materials without impurities.

Helps to reduce greenhouse gases (CO2)Construction designs in virtual space‌
Developing
technologies and supplying solutions forincreasing sewage inflows due to abnormal weather such as
heavy rainfalls

Future developments
Looking at trends over the next 10 years, we will have to respond to significant
environment changes, expansion of PPP projects, a serious shortage ofengineers and aging facilities, evolution and expansion of IoT and AI, anddevelopment of work-style reforms. To respond to changing social andcustomer needs driven by these changes in the business environment, the Plant
Engineering Division will pursue optimal design, procurement, and construction
through engineering reforms and the rationalization and streamlining ofoperations, bringing about new value and thus contributing to achieving asustainable society.

29

METAWATER REPORT 2020

Management and Operations Overview

We will bring new value and contribute to achievinga sustainable society.

Engaging in disaster rehabilitation work centered on the
coast of the Tohoku Region and contributing to building
sustainable local communities by improving the water
environment

Since sludge and waste are recycled using their own energy, the amount ofauxiliary fuel used is small, and the use of recyclable materials as a substitutefor fossil fuel also contributes to the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions.

Equipment can be started and stopped safely and easily,
and intermittent operation is simple
The heat retention offered by sand shortens the start-up time of theequipment and facilitates intermittent operation. In addition, starting andstopping are safe because the amount of treated materials (combustible
material) retained in the recycling furnace is small.

Treated material supply
Treated material iscontinuously supplied to
the recycling furnace
little by little.

Recyclable material
recoverySewage sludge,
municipal waste, etc.

The powdered recyclable
material and thermal
decomposition gas aredecomposed throughcentrifugal force, andthe recyclable material
is recovered from thebottom of the recovery
device.

Agitation
Treated material andfluidized sand arestirred inside thefurnace.

Heated air

Noncombustible
materials

Debris, etc.

Iron

Recyclable material

Aluminum(In the case of municipal waste)

Use of recyclable materials

They are used as a substitute for fossil fuels such as coal and coke in steelworks,
thermal power plants, and cement plants. They can also be used as a soil conditioner
thanks to their adsorption effect due to the porosity of the recyclable material.

Recyclable materials
produced from sludge

METAWATER REPORT 202030

トップメッセージ
Introduction to business operations

Service Solution Division

Project Topics

The Service Solution Division is engaged in business activities that include inspection, repair, operation, and maintenanceof mechanical and electric equipment of domestic water supply and sewage facilities, as well as design, construction,
operation, and maintenance of waste treatment facilities (bulk waste, incombustible waste, and recyclable waste).
Given a domestic water supply and sewage business facing degradation of facilities and equipment, there are highexpectations of private companies when local governments are experiencing financial squeezes and there areshortages of engineers and staff to operate and maintain facilities. The Service Solution Division provides services
through networks run by 30 operating bases across the country. Our services are oriented toward customers in local
communities. For instance, if a customer experiences an emergency, such as a failure or problem with mechanicaland electric equipment, we visit them immediately to provide support.
Senior Executive Officer
Executive General Manager of Service Solution Division

Recyclables intermediate processing facility●We‌ provide wide-area administration services for facilities, based on the
Water Business Cloud (WBC) using IoT and cloud computing technology, andregistry services for equipment and devices to support asset management.

●We‌ are continuously proposing service technologies that lead to maintaining
and improving safety and quality, as well as optimization such as energy
saving measures, automation, and full-automation, through the introductionof cutting-edge technologies such as AI and ICT.

●We‌ strive to strengthen partnerships with local companies in order to offer
more stable and local-community oriented services.

SDGs
being
promoted‌Contributing
to generating and supplying safe and cleanwater by maintaining the functions of clean water treatment
equipment and devices

Contributing to stable operations by maintaining thefunctions of sewage treatment equipment and devices(maintenance of discharged water quality)

In the future, in addition to conventional maintenance services, we willcontinue to provide new services including a variety of outsourced services
related to stock and asset management, along with expanding PPP projects.
We are also strengthening partnerships with local companies and local
governments, as well as actively promoting proposals for profit sharing, inwhich profits from the sale of recyclable materials generated in the wastesorting process are shared with local governments, and proposals for basic
facility improvement projects that extend the life of aging waste treatment
facilities without closing them.
FY2020 began in the midst of a national crisis caused by the spread of thenovel coronavirus, and we were once again convinced of the importance of
maintaining a stable infrastructure, including water supply, sewage works, andwaste treatment. We will work to ensure our various services and technologies
can play an important role in supporting these efforts.

METAWATER REPORT 2020

Sorting work

With our resource environment business, we design, build, operate, and maintainrecycling facilities that sort and recycle waste into usable resources. With this project,
it would be difficult to achieve the intended purpose of the installation by just designingand constructing the facility. Close cooperation with operation and maintenance tasks
is necessary to enhance the operational effectiveness of facilities to be delivered. This
is why, in the design and construction phase, we draw up a rational facility designand construction plan that reflects our extensive experience in delivery, operation, andmaintenance. In the operation and maintenance phase, we utilize our design knowhow to conduct stable and efficient daily operation and maintenance. We are also
contributing to the long-term stable operation of the recycling facility by improving
equipment in cooperation with the design and construction departments in response
to social demands such as changes in waste properties, CO2 reduction measures,
extending the life of the facility, and disaster countermeasures.
This “Kodaira, Murayama, Yamato Hygiene Association recyclables intermediate
processing facility”, which we have been involved with from the design and construction
phase, is a joint project between the three cities of Kodaira, Higashiyamato, andMusashimurayama. The purpose of the facility is to sort, compress, bale, and store PET
bottles and plastic containers and packaging for recycling. The facility is located on asmall site in an urban area and required manual sorting work. Therefore, we proposedand delivered a new type of “gravity separator for plastics” to reduce space and labor,
and started its operation in May 2019. It has been highly evaluated for its ability to
reduce the number of workers and workload required in manual sorting for municipal
projects where job creation is required but it is difficult to secure a sufficient number ofworkers. At present, we are in charge of the operation and management of the facility,
and through this project, we will support the three cities to continue safe, secure, andstable waste treatment, making a recycling-oriented community.

Outline of operation and management of recyclables
intermediate processing facility commissioned by
Kodaira, Murayama, Yamato Hygiene Association

Facility name: K odaira, Murayama, Yamato Hygiene Association Recyclables
Intermediate Processing Facility
Facility nickname: Eco Plaza Three Harmony
Address: 2-122-2 Sakuragaoka, Higashiyamato-shi, Tokyo

Sharing information through tablets

Future developments

31

Operation management of a core facility for
wide-area resource recycling business spanning three cities

Makoto Shimizu

Major activities

Operation and maintenance using ICT

Business topics Operation and management of recyclables intermediate processing facility commissioned by
Kodaira, Murayama, Yamato Hygiene Association

Management and Operations Overview

We will continue to create and offer new services that contribute to thestability and sustainability of water and environmental infrastructure.

Supporting innovations and energy-saving maintenance
operations by offering new technologies and new services,such as automated unmanned operation

Newly introduced gravity separator for plastics reduces the burden on workers in the manual sorting process
Gravity separator for plastics

Services for WBC-based and SaaS-type operations (providing softwareand software operating system environment through a network)

Design and operation of waste treatment facilities with functions attachedwhich enable local residents to address the importance of reducing andrecycling waste, and supporting their education and encouragement

Reinforcing the service solution business through partnerships
with local companies

In order to reuse plastic waste, it is necessary to remove sand, metal, and other foreign
substances before sorting in accordance with the collection quality guidelines establishedby the Japan Containers and Packaging Recycling Association. We developed thegravity separator for plastics by applying technologies used in the wind separator forincombustibles, for which we have proven delivery records, and have started operationof the first unit. This machine can separate plastics into heavy and lightweight types
with high accuracy before manual sorting work, reducing the workload during themanual sorting process and improving sorting accuracy. It has been highly evaluated in
the situation where it is difficult to secure a sufficient number of workers. Additionally,
downsizing and weight reduction of the equipment makes it possible to constructfacilities in smaller premises and also contributes to reducing construction costs. By using
this machine as one of the differentiating technologies for our resource recycling projects,
we will expand our resource environment and service solution businesses.

Gravity separator for plastics

METAWATER REPORT 202032

トップメッセージ
Introduction to business operations

International Business Division

New Partners

The International Business Division aims to develop business focusing on providing METAWATER’s unique and differentiatedproducts and technologies, especially our filtration technology, to countries all around the world, including Asia, where
further market expansion is expected, and centering on North America and Europe, where environmental regulations are
becoming increasingly strict. In order to accomplish this, we strive to maintain a focus on localism.
We participate in the global water business, which is expected to expand in the future, by promoting the localizationof bases and delivering products and technology customized to meet local demands and environmental changes,
allowing us to become a reliable presence in the regions we're working in. We are also contributing to thedevelopment of the water environment in various regions all throughout the world, as well as to SDGs from theviewpoints of improving sanitary conditions, creating a comfortable place to live, and fighting global warming.
Executive Officer
Executive General Manager of International Business Division

Ken Akikawa

Business topics Expanding the METAWATER Group through M&A

FUCHS Enprotec GmbH

Wigen Companies, Inc.

In May 2019, the Group company Aqua-Aerobic Systems, Inc. (AAS)
acquired all shares of the German water treatment equipment
supplier FUCHS Enprotec GmbH (FUCHS).
FUCHS provides machinery and technologies related to wastewater
treatment, sewage sludge and exhaust gas treatment, and has
installed more than 3,500 aerators, mixers, and odor control systems
in approximately 60 countries.
Rood Wit Blauw
We will work to further expand our
PWNT Holding B.V.
wastewater treatment business by
BerlinNetherlands
strengthening our ability to provide
Bonnproducts to customers around theFrankfurt
FUCHS Enprotec GmbHworld.

In April 2020, we acquired all shares of Wigen Companies, Inc.
(Wigen), a U.S. supplier of water treatment equipment, through
METAWATER USA, INC., a U.S. subsidiary of our company. Wigen,which specializes in membrane filtration and ion exchange
technologies for water supplies, private use, and reclaimed
wastewater, is operating its business primarily in North America.
Through this, we will enhance our
Wigen
METAWATER
presence in the rapidly growing
Companies, Inc. USA, INC.
potable water reuse market in the
Chicagosouthwestern United States andWashington D.C.
strengthen and expand our North
Aqua-Aerobic
American business by leveraging
Systems, Inc.
synergies with AAS.

FranceMunich™

Management and Operations Overview

We will contribute to solving the world’s water environmental issues
by continuously and thoroughly adhering to localism.

Major activities
●

●

●

●

‌‌In North America, Aqua-Aerobic Systems, Inc. (AAS), which became partof our Group in 2016, is deploying differentiated technologies with animpressive presence, such as a Sequencing Batch Reactor, a Cloth Media
Filter, and the Aerobic Granule Sludge Technology (Aqua Nereda ®). The
company has a stable revenue base with a sales network covering the entire
United States. Additionally, we are also developing our own water treatment
technologies, ozone generation systems, and Ceramic Membrane Filtration
Systems with AAS at the core. Wigen Companies, Inc. also joined our Groupin April 2020, making it possible to support more advanced water treatment
processes using ion exchange technologies and membrane filtration
technologies such as reverse osmosis. Our first step is to increase ourpresence in the potable water reuse market, primarily in the southwestern
United States.
®

‌‌In Europe, we are expanding the CeraMac system worldwide using ourceramic membranes together with the Dutch company PWNT. Based on
the results we receive regarding introduction of this technology to water
treatment plants in the Netherlands, UK, Switzerland, and Singapore, we will
promote the expansion of water treatment technology using our technology
by strengthening strategic cooperation with PWNT.

In‌ Asia, We delivered the first plant of an Advanced Energy Saving
Wastewater Treatment System, which has been certificated by Japan
Sewage Works Agency, succeeding in localizing technology for emerging
countries. Through representative offices in Hanoi, Phnom Penh, andSingapore, we will focus on gathering information in Southeast Asian
countries with the aim of expanding our business in the growing market
of Asia.
In‌ other news, we sold a total of 25 Mobile Ceramic Membrane Filtration
Equipment in six African countries and Southeast Asia. Additionally, we havebeen contributing to the development of local communities, receiving a letterof thanks from the government of Myanmar regarding use of this system intimes of flooding. In 2019, we also received an order for a filtration system tobe carried by a helicopter and are aiming to expand sales in the future.

SDGs
being
promoted
FUCHS OXYSTAR Aerator

Sale of sewage treatment systems, potable water reusesystems, and water purification systems in North America

Development of ceramic membrane filtration technology incooperation with overseas companies

METAWATER REPORT 2020

Company name: FUCHS Enprotec GmbH
Location: Mayen, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
Establishment: 1974
President and CEO: Christian D. Henrich
Main business activities:	Development, design, and manufacture of air diffusers and agitators for
wastewater treatment

Company name: Wigen Companies, Inc.
Location: Minnesota, USA (near Minneapolis)
Establishment: 1965
Director and Chairman: Ken Akikawa
President and CEO: Jeff W. Wigen
Main business activities:
Development, design, and manufacture of water treatment equipment suchas for membrane treatment and ion exchange systems

Project Topics
Choa Chu Kang Water Treatment Plant, Singapore

Started operation of the world’s largest water treatment plant using ceramic membrane

Creating jobs and providing education through local
companies, subsidiaries, representative offices, and projects
in local areas

To further accelerate localization, we will discover partner companies in various regions and engage in dialogue with customers throughout the world so that all
regions will take new water environment issues seriously. We will also create new value by taking advantage of our technology and experience. We will continue
to contribute to the realization of a sustainable society by quickly detecting changes in the ever-changing global water environment and providing solutions.

Ion exchanger

Overview of Wigen Companies, Inc.

Business topics
Expanding sales of Mobile Ceramic Membrane Filtration
Equipment

Reverse osmosis membrane
filtration system

Overview of FUCHS Enprotec GmbH

Implementing Advanced Energy Saving Wastewater Treatment
Systems in Asia

Future developments

33

Air diffusion and agitation with
FUCHS products

Delivered ceramic membrane (CeraMac®)

Overview of Choa Chu Kang Water
Treatment Plant, Singapore
Treatment capacity: 180,000 m3/day
Commemoration ceremony held on August 29, 2019

Our ceramic membrane (CeraMac®) was adopted for the first time in Singapore at the Choa Chu
Kang Water Treatment Plant, which began operating in August 2019. PWNT, a partner company in
the Netherlands, conducted a verification test of the ceramic membrane in collaboration with PUB*
at the water treatment plant for a year and a half from 2011. The results showed that the ceramic
membrane was highly evaluated for its stable membrane filtration performance and excellent
water recovery rate, and the system was finally approved and put into operation. The introductionof ceramic membrane filtration technology is expected to improve the treatment of the tap watersupplied to household, commercial, and industrial sectors, and to address the effects of rapid
urbanization of catchment areas and climate change on
raw water quality in Singapore.
We will continue to develop water treatment
technologies using ceramic membranes and contributeto solving water issues in various parts of the world.
*PUB: Public Utilities Board of Singapore

Commemoration ceremony

METAWATER REPORT 202034

トップメッセージ
Introduction to business operations

PPP Division

Project Topics

The Public Private Partnership Division promotes PPP projects in the Japanese water and sewage market. At a time where weface a declining population, degradation of facilities and equipment constructed during a period of high economic growth,and major earthquakes and torrential rains, here in Japan we need to take early measures to resolve a string of issues
including financial difficulties and a lack of engineers in local governments operating water supply and sewerage projects.
Since the implementation of the PFI Act in 1999, public infrastructure developments have been carried out throughPPP using the capital, technologies, and know-how of the private sector. Furthermore, since the revision of the Water
Supply Act in 2018, with the promotion of large-scale concessions, the demand for PPP using private companies is
expected to increase even further.
Executive Officer and Executive General Manager of
PPP DivisionWe‌ undertook the "Comprehensive Consignment of the Arao City Water Business,etc." in 2016, which was a consigned project package comprehensively covering
areas from customer services to asset management for water supply facilities. Whenlaunched, this consigned project was the first in Japan to provide comprehensive.

●I‌n 2015, we participated in a project related to a third-sector company,
Kitakyushu Water Service Co., Ltd., with joint investments from the municipal
government of Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture, and six private companies,
and are engaged in monitoring operations and centralized control of municipal
water and wastewater facilities as well as wider area management projects.

●In‌ Nakatsugawa City, Gifu Prefecture, the scope of water supply services
and other comprehensive consignment operations has been expanded.
Furthermore, we are beginning to see the results of collaborations with local
companies and have been entrusted with a new comprehensive consignment
operation in Gero City, which is adjacent to Nakatsugawa City.

●In‌ Fukuchiyama City, Kyoto Prefecture, we are accelerating initiatives for publicprivate partnership projects, such as by taking on newly entrusted comprehensive
water supply consignment work in collaboration with local companies.

An advanced water supply comprehensive consignment
project implementing “WOODAP”

Masashi Sakai
Arao City Enterprise Bureau

Major activities●

Business topics Comprehensive consignment for Arao water business

SDGs
being
promoted

Outline of the comprehensive consignment for Arao water business
BCP training session‌Activities
ranging from design and construction to operationand maintenance of water treatment plants, including
mechanical and electric equipment.

Comprehensive consignment of the water supply business in Fukuchiyama City,
including counter services and operation management of water supply facilities

BCP training held in Arao City
Cutting tape at the opening ceremony in April 2019

Future developments
Amidst increasingly expanding business areas that are expected to be covered by the private sector, we have positioned the PPP business as a growth area
and are seeing progress in formulating a new business platform targeting privatization and wider area management in the water and wastewater business.
We have already participated in more than 30 PPP projects. In the future, we will promote the following three measures: (1) creating projects making use ofa proposal system under the PFI Act; (2) improving efficiency and developing tools such as asset management tools using ICT; and (3) promoting alliances andpartnerships to respond to wider area management and further comprehensiveness. We will steadily expand our business and enhance our competitivenessto win large-scale projects.

METAWATER REPORT 2020

Project name: Comprehensive consignment for Arao water business
Project period: April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2021
Business operations covered: (1) Administrative and planning support; (2) Management
support; (3) Sales; (4) Design and construction; (5) Maintenanceand inspection; (6) Crisis management

Business topics Comprehensive outsourcing of privately contracted services, including water supply services, in Fukuchiyama City
We propose appropriate solutions tailored to local government
issues, such as the transfer of technology and financial
deterioration in the water and sewage business. A number of ourunique value-added services for PPP projects are also proposed.

Execution of a Business Continuity Plan (BCP) in the event ofa natural disaster such as water supply activities following
the Kumamoto Earthquakes in April 2016.

35

Since FY2016, our Group has been working on comprehensive outsourcing of thewater supply business in Arao City, Kumamoto Prefecture. While the Arao CityEnterprise Bureau has the authority to manage business plans and finances, thewide-ranging water supply business is comprehensively entrusted to a special
purpose company, “Arao Water Service Co.”, of which our company is a leading
company. Now in its fifth year, we are deepening our operational efforts. In
particular, our original methodology, “WOODAP”, was developed in this businessin a practical manner, and established.
Specific measures include “More efficient on-site judgments by assigning head
office employees with decision-making authority to Arao Water Service Co.”,“Practical BCP training for rapid business recovery from disasters”, and the“‘Wani No Kando’ campaign in which employees think about their work from theviewpoint of water users”.
Thanks to these efforts, streamlining and rationalization have resulted in a “9%reduction in work hours (compared to the first year)”, a “40% decrease in longterm delinquency in water charges (stricter closure rules)”, and more.
As the number of PPP projects is expected to increase, we will continue to use
WOODAP methods to provide and improve services from the user’s perspective.

Management and Operations Overview

We are making progress in building a new business platform. We will
steadily expand our business and enhance our competitiveness.

Since April 2019, a consortium of companies represented by METAWATER has
been entrusted with the water supply business in Fukuchiyama City, Kyoto
Prefecture. The scope of the contract includes business operations such as
maintenance, sales, management, administration and planning, as well associal contribution activities. We have entrusted repair work for pipe leaks,
which requires a quick response, to a company affiliated with a local pipe works
association, and oversee a total of 54 operations, including placing orders tospecialized companies.
As a representative company of the consortium, we will utilize our abundance ofbusiness experience to ensure the sustainability of the water supply business andto improve citizen services in Fukuchiyama City.

Outline of comprehensive outsourcing of privately contracted services, including water supply services, in Fukuchiyama City
Project name: C omprehensive outsourcing of privately contracted services,
including water supply services, in Fukuchiyama City
Trustees: METAWATER / METAWATER SERVICE / FUTUREINN Consortium
Contract period: April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2024

Business operations covered: Maintenance and inspections, sales, administrative tasks, management andplanning, facility maintenance and management, unplanned repairs, customer
counter/meter reading/fee-related operations, fee system construction
management, social contribution activities, etc.

METAWATER REPORT 202036