Guidelines for Environmental Enhancement in Japan

Abstract

New guidelines of water reuse for environmental enhancement have been established in Japan. There are two categories in the guidelines. One is aesthetical setting without public access, the other is limited contact use including shoreline usage, boating and fishing. We do not consider direct contact use such as swimming and bathing. Two groups of guidelines were set. One group comprised basic guidelines which are not site specific, based on public health and visual appeal. We call these “Basic Guidelines”. The numerical guidelines for total coliform, BOD, SS, turbidity, and color unit are determined in the Basic Guidelines. On the other hand, hydraulic and biological characteristics of environment enhancement differ according to the site, purposes, climate and so on. Consideration of the characteristic of each site should be paid carefully. We call such considerations as “Guidelines Depending on Type of Use”. The site-specific water quality index such as T-P, T-N, foaming substances are discussed here.