Japan's Progress in Water Environment Technology and Assistance to Developing Countries - 2020

Japan's Progress in Water Environment Technology and Assistance to Developing Countries - 2020

In the 2020s, Japanese water environment technologies are increasingly in demand in developing countries. Japanese companies are actively involved in the installation of water treatment facilities, especially in Asia and Africa. For example, Hitachi Zosen, a major Japanese company, has been involved in the construction of a sewage treatment plant in Vietnam, completing a facility with a treatment capacity of 500,000 cubic meters per year by 2021. As a result, water quality in Hanoi and other large cities is improving, and the sewage treatment rate has increased to about 70%.

Progress in Desalination Technology
In the 2020s, demand for seawater desalination technology is increasing, especially in developing countries in arid regions. Japan's Toray is one of the world leaders in this field. Toray's reverse osmosis membrane technology is widely used in Middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia and Oman, where a seawater desalination facility in Saudi Arabia will supply approximately 1 million cubic meters of fresh water per day in 2020. This technology is also highly energy efficient and is considered important as part of sustainable water supply in developing countries.

Countermeasures against Microplastic Pollution
In recent years, the issue of marine plastics has gained global attention, and since the beginning of the 2020s, Japanese companies have been actively involved in the fight against microplastic pollution. Japan's Kawasaki Heavy Industries has developed a water purification system that efficiently separates and removes microplastics, and in 2022, the company introduced the system on a trial basis in Jakarta, Indonesia. The system treats approximately 200 tons of water daily and has successfully removed more than 80% of plastic particles.

International Support for Water and Sewage Infrastructure
In the 2020s, Japan is making a significant contribution to the development of water and sewage infrastructure through international cooperation. The Japanese government and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) are providing funding and technical assistance for the development of water and sewage infrastructure in African countries, particularly in Kenya and Tanzania. In Nairobi, Kenya, a new sewage treatment facility will be completed in 2021, providing a safe water supply for approximately 500,000 households.

Disaster Response Technologies
Japan is known for its resilient infrastructure against natural disasters such as earthquakes and typhoons. In the 2020s, countries such as the Philippines and Bangladesh introduced Japan's disaster-resistant water supply systems. For example, NEC Corporation (NEC) has built a system on the island of Cebu in the Philippines that can ensure water supply in the event of a disaster, and is capable of providing approximately 1,000 cubic meters of drinking water daily in an emergency.

Smart Water Management System
In the 2020s, "smart water management systems" utilizing AI and the Internet of Things (IoT) are beginning to spread in developing countries. Japan's "Panasonic" has introduced smart water management technology in India in 2022. This system collects and analyzes water usage and water quality data in real time to achieve efficient water resource management. This has reduced water wastage by about 15% and promoted sustainable water use in Indian cities such as Mumbai and Chennai.