July 15, 2005
The Ministry of the Environment (MOE) released the result of the FY 2004 Comprehensive Survey on Water Pollutant Discharge conducted to utilize the data as a fundamental reference for effective implementation of water administration.
In order to prevent water pollution effectively, it is essential to suppress the discharge of pollutant from the various sources. For implementation of rational and effective effluent control and guidance, it is essential to apprehend discharge source and quantity of water pollutant throughout Japan. The survey is aiming to facilitate formulation and revision of effluent standard by grasping the changes in status of effluent including quantity of pollutant in the effluent from factories and business establishments subject to the regulation under the Water Pollution Control Law.
<Outline of the FY 2004 Comprehensive Survey on Water Pollutant Discharge>
| 1. | Factories and business establishments subject to the survey |
This survey covers factories and business establishments having specified facilities designated by the Water Pollution Control Law with average daily effluent quantity of more than 50 m3 or possibility of discharging harmful substances. Specified facilities in the designated areas and deemed specified facilities stipulated by the Law Concerning Special Measures for the Preservation of Lake Water Quality are also included.
The total number of the factories and business establishments subject to the survey is 44,078. This table shows breakdown of factories and business establishments by effluent quantity and harmful substances.(Table)
| 2. | Survey duration |
The survey was conducted from December 13 to December 27, 2004. The information including effluent concentration of the subjected factories and business establishment in the previous fiscal year (FY 2003) was collected, which meant the collation was made for April 1, 2003 to March 31, 2004.
| 3. | Survey method |
The survey was conducted by questionnaire method. A questionnaire was individually distributed to the subjected factories and business establishments and business proprietors returned it after filling out the record of their measurement for effluent discharge.
| 4. | Surveyed items |
| Items surveyed were the following four items. | ||
| - | Summary of factories or business establishments such as number of employees, business scale shipment values, operational status and industrial classification. | |
| - | Data of water consumption and effluent. | |
| - | Effluent monitoring data concerning the living environment items such as COD, BOD, pH. | |
| - | Status of use/manufacture of harmful substances and effluent concentration. | |
Summary of the survey result (only in Japanese) is available at:
http://www.env.go.jp/water/report/h17-03/index.html
[LINK]
| *Table | Factories and Business Establishments by Effluent Quantity and Harmful Substances |