Various Water Pollution Controls

The Law Concerning Provisional Measures for Conservation of the Environment of the Seto Inland Sea (1978)

In 1972, a large-scale red tide occurred in the Seto of Harima. In 1973, the Law Concerning Provisional Measures for Conservation of the Environment of the Seto Inland Sea was enacted. The law introduced a licensing requirement for installations of specified facilities over a certain scale.

This law required the national government to immediately establish a basic plan to implement measures for protection of the Seto Inland Sea. Prior to establishment of the basic plan, the law required immediate reduction pollution loading from industrial effluents in terms of COD (chemical oxygen demand). Further, it required a licensing system for the development of specified facilities, and the consideration of special characteristics of the Seto Inland Sea when land reclamation was permitted.

The law received major amendments in 1978 and become a permanent law entitled the “Law Concerning Special Measures for Conservation of the Environment of the Seto Inland Sea”. It incorporated total maximum daily loading controls of COD and reductions for phosphorus loading to prevent eutrophication damages.

See also the Law Concerning Provisional Measures for Conservation of the Environment of the Seto Inland Sea

The Law Concerning Special Measures for Protection of Lake Water Quality (1984)

In 1984, the Law Concerning Special Measures for Protection of Lake Water Quality was adopted to control water pollution in lakes and ponds. This law required the overall and deliberate implementation of projects to contribute to the protection of water quality. This included construction of sewage systems, and strict regulations of various pollution sources, for designated lakes and ponds. This law initiated systematic efforts against urban pollution by domestic sources.

See also the Law Concerning Special Measures for Protection of Lake Water Quality

An Amendment to the Water Pollution Control Law (the Groundwater Pollution Prevention System) (1989)

The amendment prohibited infiltration of water contaminated with toxic substances by facilities using these substances. In addition, it required notification and provided authority to issue orders to modify plans so that they guaranteed pollution prevention. The amendment also required governors to continuously monitor the pollution of groundwater.

The slow flow of groundwater makes natural purification difficult once it is polluted. The quality of groundwater was not being improved, so the Water Pollution Control Law was amended again in 1996, to create the groundwater purification order system which allows governors to take measures against polluters in order to prevent pollution. Environmental quality standards for groundwater were issued in March 1997.

See also Countermeasures Against Groundwater Pollution

An Amendment to the Water Pollution Control Law (Promotion of Controls for Domestic Wastewater) (1990)

The amendment identified responsibilities of the national government and the prefectural and local governments in the efforts to control domestic wastewater. The amendment provided that prefectures could designate areas for intensive control of domestic wastewater. It also permitted local governments to prepare plans to promote the control of domestic sewage. The amendment further created a special category for facilities that were subject to regulation only in areas with the total maximum daily loading control for COD.

See also Promotion of Countermeasures against Domestic Effluents

The Law to Take Special Measures for the Protection of Water Quality in Headwater Areas to Protect Drinking Water Supplies

“The Law to Take Special Measures for the Protection of Water Quality in Headwater Areas for the Purpose of Preventing Specific Trouble in the Drinking Water Supply” came into existence in l994. With this law, came a system to regulate organic substances, such as humic acids.

See also the Law Concerning Special Measures to Preserve Water Quality of Water Resource for Drinking Water

The Law Concerning Promotion of the Implementation of Quality Protection of the Headwaters for the Drinking

In 1994, the “Law Concerning Promotion of the Implementation of Quality Protection of the Headwaters for the Drinking Water Supply” was enacted to promote the construction of sewage systems. The law also promoted development of consolidated private sewage treatment facilities and river projects to control trihalomethane and offensive odor in drinking water supply headwaters.

< back