Where Does the Water of Udon Country Flow Late 2000s

Where Does the Water of Udon Country Flow Late 2000s

In the late 2000s, it became clear that organic pollution from small-scale business establishments was becoming a major burden on the water environment in Kagawa Prefecture, and the prefecture considered strengthening its own effluent regulations. Wastewater from udon noodle stores contained high levels of starch and high concentrations of organic matter, and there was concern about the impact of such wastewater on rivers and waterways. Since wastewater discharging less than 50 tons per day was not subject to regulation under the Water Pollution Control Law, the prefecture voluntarily conducted a survey and established a study group in fiscal 2004 to prepare a manual outlining improvements to the manufacturing process and wastewater treatment methods.

In terms of the system, a 2009 amendment to the ordinance imposed wastewater treatment requirements on small-scale business facilities, and facilities with wastewater discharging 10 tons or more per day became subject to the regulation, which went into full effect in 2012. The TOC of 160 mg/L indicated as the standard is a high environmental standard that was deemed achievable based on experimental data. On the other hand, the cost of installing wastewater treatment facilities is in the range of 4-6 million yen, placing a heavy burden on stores.

For Kagawa Prefecture, udon is the center of culture, lifestyle, and tourism, and the deterioration of the water environment was a problem directly related to the region's attractiveness and economy. The geographical condition of the Seto Inland Sea, a closed sea area, also strongly demanded sustainable water quality conservation. The strengthening of effluent regulations was an effort to balance the preservation of udon culture and the local environment, and was a step toward sustainability that Kagawa Prefecture sought on its own.