Chemical Waste Groundwater Contamination Problem in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture - January 2011 In Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, approximately 50 tons of illegally dumped chemicals have contaminated groundwater, threatening the safety of drinking water. Tests revealed groundwater trichloroethylene levels 10 times the standard limit and carbon tetrachloride levels 8 times the standard limit, affecting approximately 500 households in the surrounding area. The contamination zone extends approximately 3 kilometers in diameter, leading to the suspension of agricultural water and well water use.

Chemical Waste Groundwater Contamination Problem in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture - January 2011 In Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, approximately 50 tons of illegally dumped chemicals have contaminated groundwater, threatening the safety of drinking water. Tests revealed groundwater trichloroethylene levels 10 times the standard limit and carbon tetrachloride levels 8 times the standard limit, affecting approximately 500 households in the surrounding area. The contamination zone extends approximately 3 kilometers in diameter, leading to the suspension of agricultural water and well water use.

As an emergency measure, Sendai City installed water purification facilities, increasing daily purification capacity to 500 tons. Furthermore, ten pumps aimed at purifying the groundwater have been installed, and excavation work on the contaminated soil is underway. The restoration work is expected to cost approximately 200 million yen. The two companies responsible for the illegal dumping were identified and fined 70 million yen and 90 million yen, respectively.

To prevent recurrence, the city installed 10 surveillance cameras in its industrial zones and distributed 10,000 awareness posters. Furthermore, to ensure strict chemical management, it holds four training sessions annually for local companies. These efforts have reduced illegal dumping incidents in industrial zones by approximately 30% compared to the previous year. This incident underscores the importance of ensuring the safety of local residents' drinking water and strengthening chemical waste management.