Resources for International Cooperation

  • Evaluation
    • Water pollution issues
      • Concerning the protection of human health, the overall performance of the waste water programme is satisfactory in most areas, owing to strengthened regulations, implementation of strict abatement measures and very large investment in pollution prevention.
      • Concerning pollutants in sediments, it would be necessary to identify the main sources to clarify the extent of the contamination in order to take cost-effective preventive measures at source.
      • For organic pollution, rapid growth in urbanized population, in consumption and in GDP explain why Japan is underequipped for the collection and treatment of domestic waste water. As a result, domestic effluents contribute to contamination of the water supply and to concerns about the quality of Tokyo Bay, Ise Bay and the Seto Inland Sea as well as major lakes and reservoirs. Despite some improvements, these bodies of water often do not meet the EQS.
      • Regarding nutrients, tertiary treatment of sewage aimed at nutrient removal by the best available technology is rare, and a timetable for its development does not seem available.
      • Growing demand for drinking water, combined with concerns about quality of the sources of water supply, is a major problem, giving rise to increasing costs.
    • Management
      • The water management system adopted by Japan - based on national EQS and emission standards, supplemented by more stringent standards defined by prefectural or local authorities, and by voluntary agreements with industry - has proved environmentally effective for hazardous substances, and helps adapt efforts to local circumstances. In addition, full attention has been paid to issue related to the implementation of water management policies.
      • Although much effort is put into reducing organic loading of rivers and lakes, progress is limited principally by financial constraints. To meet effluent standards and improve the extent and quality of the sewerage system, larger financial resources will have to be set aside. An expansion of the use of economic instruments, such as a pollution charges, may be desirable.
      • Basin-wide comprehensive management and planning of water quality would be more effective if it included quantitative targets for emission reduction of priority substances such as nutrients and hazardous substances.
      • Water management policy, including the setting of environment quality objectives, should: i) expand from a mostly human orientated approach to include more ecosystem management concerns; ii) shift from a remedial to a more preventive approach, including more use of in-process techniques instead of end-of-pipe treatment; iii) adopt a multimedia approach in setting EQS, because of the relationship of water, sediments and air.
      • More attention should be given to contamination from diffuse source resulting in direct atmospheric deposition of toxic substances and nutrients in large water bodies. In many cities, run-off from roads with intensive traffic reaches surface or coastal waters without separation or treatment, although it can include, for instance, asbestos or heavy metals.
      • Quality standards concerning pesticides have been set, regulations have been adopted and measures will have to be taken to solve the problems caused by these hazardous substances. In order to assure proper use of pesticides, timely and appropriate application of pesticides based on forecasts and outbreaks of pests, is important.
      • Groundwater monitoring should be broadened to include soil contamination, and a legal framework for dealing with the cost of clean-up operations should be established.
  • Recommendations
    • Part of Japan's economic stimulus packages should be allocated to water pollution control infrastructure.
    • New programmes concerning advanced waste water treatment plants treating nutrients) should be launched and financed.
    • To support such programmes, targets should be set for the pollution loads discharged by individual sources or by waste water treatment plants, and also for the total loading of water bodies.
    • For broader water pollution management programmes, it is recommended that greater attention be given to combating pollution from diffuse sources (pesticide use, run-off from roads, atmospheric deposition, etc), reducing nitrogenous and phosphorous loadings, improving the monitoring of groundwater for pesticides) and soil contamination, and enhancing financial means for water pollution control, including increased use of charges for waste water collection and treatment.