77-History and Progress of Wastewater Treatment in Shanghai and Manila Bay-2020s-Environmental Issues Commentary

77-History and Progress of Wastewater Treatment in Shanghai and Manila Bay-2020s-Environmental Issues Commentary

### History and Progress of Wastewater Treatment in Asia

#### 1990s
In the 1990s, China's Yellow River and Yangtze River received more than 24 billion cubic meters of industrial wastewater annually, resulting in heavy metal pollution such as lead and cadmium. In India, more than 100 million liters of untreated wastewater flowed into the Ganges River every day, causing health problems for some 400 million people living nearby. In the Philippines and Indonesia, wastewater from domestic use flowed directly into the sea due to the almost complete lack of treatment facilities in urban areas, resulting in the destruction of marine ecosystems.

#### 2000s
China dramatically increased its wastewater treatment capacity in preparation for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and facilities capable of treating 3 million cubic meters daily were installed in Beijing. South Korea has achieved 50% wastewater reuse, reusing a large portion of its industrial water. In the Philippines, facilities with a capacity of 200,000 cubic meters per year were installed around Manila Bay; JICA expanded treatment facilities in Indonesia; and ADB promoted the development of wastewater treatment infrastructure in the Philippines.

#### 2010s
In Shanghai, a facility that treats 150 million cubic meters of wastewater per year was fully operational, contributing to the improvement of water quality throughout the city. JICA-supported wastewater management along the Ganges River was strengthened, and in Kathmandu, a facility that treats 95,000 cubic meters of wastewater per day is in operation to meet the demands of the rapidly growing city.

#### 2020s
Water scarcity due to climate change and increasing urbanization have created an urgent need for reuse projects. In Shanghai, 1.7 million cubic meters of wastewater is treated daily, with heavy metals and chemicals removed using advanced technology. In Manila Bay in the Philippines, 50 million cubic meters of untreated wastewater flows into the ocean each year, seriously damaging the fishing industry.

Veolia and BASF are promoting a project to reuse 20 billion cubic meters of water per year in China and the Philippines, and JICA and ADB are supporting Indonesia's plan to increase its wastewater treatment rate from 14% to 20% by 2025, with the aim of establishing sustainable water resource management. The goal is to establish sustainable water resources management. These efforts are expected to improve water quality and protect the environment throughout Asia.