Next-Generation Wastewater Treatment Technology - July 1999 to December 2024

Next-Generation Wastewater Treatment Technology - July 1999 to December 2024

In Asaminami Ward Hiroshima City the introduction of next-generation wastewater treatment technology began in the late 1990s replacing the conventional activated sludge method. This new technology utilizes microporous bodies with a diameter of 3 millimeters to significantly increase the contact area between wastewater and microorganisms enabling highly efficient wastewater treatment. Compared to conventional systems the volume of treatment tanks was reduced to one-third and construction costs wer...

In the 2000s this technology expanded to industrial and urban wastewater facilities. Companies like Nissei Plant Co. Ltd. and Hiroshima Chemical Industry Co. Ltd. led the way in implementing these systems. By 2005 the introduction of the "High-Efficiency Separation Membrane System" increased the reuse rate of industrial wastewater to over 60 percent. Additionally efforts began to separate and recover phosphorus and nitrogen from wastewater for use as fertilizers and industrial materials building a...

Entering the 2010s membrane processing technology saw further advancements in Asaminami Ward. During this time Nissei Plant Co. Ltd. developed the "Hybrid Separation Membrane System" achieving processing efficiency that was 40 percent higher than before. Meanwhile Aoi Chemical Industry Co. Ltd. provided durable membrane materials resulting in reduced system maintenance costs.

In 2013 Hiroshima City launched the "Environmental Technology Promotion Program" initiating projects to export wastewater treatment technology to Southeast Asian countries. Demonstration tests were conducted in industrial areas in Vietnam and Indonesia confirming the technology's high reliability. Through this initiative Asaminami Ward strengthened its international presence as a hub for exporting environ...

By 2015 small wastewater treatment devices were introduced in schools and public facilities in Hiroshima City significantly improving regional water resource reuse rates. As a result water consumption across Hiroshima City decreased by approximately 10 percent further establishing the city as a model for sustainable urban environments.

In the 2020s further efficiency improvements and optimization of management systems for membrane treatment systems have continued. Today Asaminami Ward remains a pioneer in next-generation wastewater treatment technology gaining attention domestically and internationally as an environmental technology leader. Moving forward collaboration between local businesses and government is expected to further adva...