Japan's Pollution Experience: Bringing Water Back to Life Part 2 of 4

Summary

In the late 1960s, Japan faced severe pollution issues with the Minamata and Italia Thai diseases linked to industrial waste. The 1970 Water Pollution Prevention Act imposed strict controls on factory emissions, leading to the closure of thousands of polluting companies. Innovative solutions like Mr. Sue Bochy's plating system, which recycled waste, and cleaner production methods reduced pollution. The government incentivized industrial relocation to parks with shared treatment facilities. The Kawasaki zero emission industrial park and the paper industry's lignin reclamation exemplify progress. Community efforts like the Yahagi Water Council played a crucial role in monitoring and reducing pollution, fostering dialogue with factory owners to improve practices.

Takeaways

• 📅 In the late 1960s, the Japanese government acknowledged that Minamata and Itai-Itai diseases were caused by industrial pollution.
• 💧 1970 marked the introduction of the Water Pollution Prevention Act, which imposed controls on factory drainage and water quality.
• 🏭 Companies violating the Water Pollution Prevention Act were exposed, leading to the shutdown of thousands of factories.
• 🐟 High levels of contaminants, particularly PCBs, were found in fish, setting a new world record.
• 🔍 Mr. Sue Bochy established his own plating factory with a commitment to not discharge any waste, focusing on recycling waste fluids.
• 🔬 Junko Nakanishi emphasizes that cleaner production through process improvements is more important than just attaching water treatment facilities.
• 🏢 The government encouraged factories to relocate to industrial parks and provided low-interest financing for environmentally friendly equipment.
• 🌿 The Kawasaki Zero Emission Industrial Park was established, aiming for no waste generation by its 15 companies.
• 🌲 The paper industry improved water quality by recycling paper and extracting lignin from waste fluid to use as fuel.
• 🚰 Despite the Water Pollution Prevention Act, companies in the Huggy River watershed continued to discharge contaminated water.
• 🔎 The Yahagi Water Council actively monitored and exposed companies illegally dumping waste, eventually becoming a consultative body for new developments in the area.

Q & A

What were Minamata and Itai-Itai diseases caused by?

Minamata and Itai-Itai diseases were caused by industrial effluents.

In what year did Japan initiate the Water Pollution Prevention Act?

Japan initiated the Water Pollution Prevention Act in 1970.

What changes did the Water Pollution Prevention Act bring to factory drainage?

The act introduced controls on factory drainage volumes and water quality, which were virtually unrestricted before.

How did the legislation influence local governments in terms of pollution control?

The legislation allowed local governments to establish their own independent bylaws for stricter checks on pollution.

What was the outcome of the stricter checks on companies following the Water Pollution Prevention Act?

Companies in violation of the act were exposed, leading to the shutdown of thousands of polluting companies.

What was the significance of the high PCB concentrations detected in fish?

The high PCB concentrations detected in fish set a new world record and highlighted the severity of the pollution problem.

How did Mr. Sue Bochy's plating factory address the issue of hexavalent chromium discharge?

Mr. Sue Bochy's factory conceived a plating system that filtered and reused hexavalent chromium, ensuring no discharge of this noxious substance.

What is the concept of 'cleaner production' as mentioned in the script?

Cleaner production refers to improvements in the production process that reduce the amount of effluent that needs to be treated, often by changing raw materials or recycling them within the production process.

How did the government support factories in moving to industrial parks?

The government offered low-interest financing to encourage factories to concentrate in single locations or industrial parks and made shared drainage treatment facilities possible for small and medium-sized companies.

What is the goal of the Kawasaki Zero Emission Industrial Park?

The goal of the Kawasaki Zero Emission Industrial Park is to have the companies located there strive to generate no waste material.

How did the paper industry improve its water quality and reduce waste?

The paper industry improved water quality and reduced waste by recycling paper, which has almost no lignin, thus requiring less raw material and generating less effluent.

What role did the Yahagi Water Council play in addressing water pollution?

The Yahagi Water Council measured water quality, located factories causing contamination, and even patrolled at night to catch companies secretly dumping waste. They eventually became a private watchdog, facilitating dialogue with factory owners to adjust drainage and production methods.