- For Class A Rivers (including lakes and coastal areas), the proportion of survey sites that met the environmental standards for BOD (biochemical oxygen demand) or COD (chemical oxygen demand) value was 90% in 2013.

- Of surveyed locations in the rivers, 94% of the locations had good water of 3.0mg/L of BOD 75%, in which salmon and sweetfish can thrive.

- For environmental standard items relating to the protection of human health (27 items such as arsenic), the proportion of survey sites that met the environmental standards was approximately 99%, with most sites meeting the standards.

Ratio of Survey Locations on Class A Rivers (including lakes and coastal areas) where BOD (or COD) Value Met 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 Seto Inland Sea, because of the polluting load draining from land and deterioration of purification capacity in ocean areas due to the loss of tidal flats and seaweed forests, the fishing industry has suffered damages from the occurrence of red and blue tides. In addition to this, there have been occurrences of environmental deterioration, as well as navigational obstacles to vessels, due to drifting debris and oil.

To resolve the current state, we advance activities to revive beautiful oceans by (1) sediment dredging, sand capping, and back-filling pits from mining to improve the substratum, (2) creating habitats for organisms by reviving tidal flats and seaweed forests and disseminating buildings that can coexist with nature, (3) removing floating waste and oils by using sea environment maintenance ships, and (4) reducing the amount of pollutants released into the ocean by improving sewage treatment facilities.

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

We will appropriately formulate and review the comprehensive basin-wide planning of sewage 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 of measures by 2022 through controlling the amount of water and the frequency at which untreated water is released in to streams during heavy rains.

## 3 Cultivating water and using it efficiently

## (1) Stable supply of water resources

In order to secure stability in the utilization of water, there must be various policies corresponding to the situation of communities from both standpoints of supply and demand. Specifically, in the facet of demand, there are measures to strengthen the recovery and reuse of water, and increase awareness for conserving water. In supply, there are measures to build and maintain facilities to supply water which are water resource development facilities such as dams, implement countermeasures for aging facilities, and develop crisis management measures, etc. In addition to the sustainable conservation and use of groundwater, and promotion of utilizing rainwater and recycled water, based on the “Special Measures for Water Source Area Act”, work is being done to develop the living environment of the water source area and the industrial infrastructures, along with prevention of water pollution of the dam reservoirs.

Furthermore, the effect of climate change due to global warming has been noted, and has led to predictions that there