systems in 2011. MLIT is striving to prevent these hazards and quickly implement measures upon occurrence. As for water pollution control, the Liaison Council for Prevention of Water Pollution, consisting of river administration and relevant administrative authorities, was set up in all 109 water systems in Japan to quickly report and communicate the occurrence of water quality hazards, and for the containment of hazards, such as installing oil fences.

• From a national perspective, surveyed sites that satisfied the levels of BOD (Biological Oxygen Demand) or COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) of environmental standards amounted to 91% in 2011, the highest percentage for 3 years in a row since this survey was started.

• Of surveyed sites in the rivers, 95% of the sites had good water, in which salmon and sweetfish can thrive ( $ \leq $ 3.0 mg/L of BOD).

• As for items in environmental standards related to protecting the health of people (27 items including arsenic), 99% of the sites satisfied environmental standards.

Graphic II-8-4-3 Ratio of surveyed sites that satisfied BOD or COD levels of environmental standards

## (3) Improving the water environment of enclosed coastal seas

Regarding the enclosed coastal seas of the Tokyo Bay, Ise Bay, Osaka Bay, and the Inland Sea of Japan, because of the large amounts of organic pollutants and chemicals such as nitrogen and phosphate draining from land, and the loss of tidal flats and seaweed meadows, the fishing industry has suffered damages from the occurrence of red and blue tides.

In addition, floating waste causes environmental deterioration and prevents ships from usual navigation.

To resolve the current state, we advance activities to revive beautiful oceans by ① sludge dredging, sand capping, and back-filling deeply excavated sites to improve the substratum, ② creating habitats for organisms by reviving tidal flats and seaweed meadows and disseminating port facilities that can coexist with organisms, ③ removing floating waste and oils by using sea environment improvement vessels, and ④ reducing the amount of pollutants released into the ocean by improving sewage treatment facilities.

## (4) Stimulating the sewage maintenance to improve the water environment

We will appropriately formulate and review the comprehensive basin-wide planning of sewerage systems, and promote high temperature incineration to remove nitrogen and phosphates which contribute to the eutrophication of enclosed bodies of water. In addition, we are working for early advancement in improving water quality and stratified advanced water treatment by partially renovating equipment and facilities in treatment plants that have not yet reached their scheduled renewal period.

As for the combined sewerage system, we plan to complete implementation in small to medium cities by the end of FY2013 and in large cities by the end of FY2023 through controlling the amount of water and the frequency at which untreated water is released in to streams during heavy rains.

## (5) Recovery of waterways according to the needs of communities

In recent years, waterways are being purified and improved in water amenity by transferring clean water into them. In addition, the need for protecting and preserving the animal habitats and cultural heritage are increasing. For this reason, based on the “Guideline for Handling the Authorization to Utilize Water Supplies related to Ambient Water,” $ ^{Note} $ we are