Water pollution has decreased in general
according to a recent report of the Ministry
of the Environment. In particular, toxic
substances designated as health-risks and
controlled by Environmental Quality
Standards (EQSs) (e.g. substances such as
cadmium and cyanide) have decreased
remarkably to levels that meet the EQSs
requirements almost everywhere in Japan.
Dissolved organic pollutants (largely from
domestic sewage and other waste waters)
remain a problem, however, with high
levels of dissolved organic pollutants
measured in enclosed water bodies such as
bays, coastal seas, and lakes.4
Source: Water Resources Department, Ministry of
Land Infrastructure, and Development Research and
Statistics Department, Ministry of Economy, Trade
and Industry
1 The volume of urban water consumed are measured
by water-metering penetration
The volume of agricultural water is estimated based
on the volume of water intake from the river by
Ministry of Agriculture, Forest and Fishery
2 Recycling rate = Recycling water use/(intake from
the river + recycling water use).