Fuji City's Sludge Pollution and Its Impact on Fisheries - September 1995 In Fuji City, Shizuoka Prefecture, pollution occurred where rivers were contaminated and large amounts of sludge accumulated due to waste liquid from paper mills. This problem became apparent during the period of rapid economic growth starting in the 1950s, as the paper industry expanded rapidly. Chemical substances contained in the wastewater flowed into rivers, causing water quality deterioration and ecological destruction. Particularly in the Fuji River flowing through Fuji City, sludge accumulated, severely impacting aquatic resources.

Fuji City's Sludge Pollution and Its Impact on Fisheries - September 1995 In Fuji City, Shizuoka Prefecture, pollution occurred where rivers were contaminated and large amounts of sludge accumulated due to waste liquid from paper mills. This problem became apparent during the period of rapid economic growth starting in the 1950s, as the paper industry expanded rapidly. Chemical substances contained in the wastewater flowed into rivers, causing water quality deterioration and ecological destruction. Particularly in the Fuji River flowing through Fuji City, sludge accumulated, severely impacting aquatic resources.

Local fishermen faced declining fish stocks and the loss of fishing grounds, suffering significant economic damage. To address this problem, government and companies worked to establish wastewater treatment facilities, but fundamental improvement took many years. Additionally, public concern about pollution grew, and Fuji City became known as a municipality actively tackling environmental issues. This case strongly underscored the necessity of balancing environmental conservation with industry.

Content of Related Sources 1. Wastewater Volume and Pollution Levels In the Fujikawa River basin, paper mills discharged approximately 2,000 tons of wastewater per day by the late 1960s, with COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) levels exceeding regulatory standards by about three times. This significantly impacted the ecosystem.

2. Technical Improvement Efforts: After 1975, the introduction of the activated sludge process reduced COD in the effluent by approximately 75%. The flocculation sedimentation process successfully precipitated over 90% of the solids in the wastewater.

3. Damage to Fisheries and Economic Impact Silt deposits in the lower river basin were estimated at 10,000 tons, causing annual fishing losses of approximately 50 million yen. This significantly impacted the local economy.

4. Role of Resident Movements Resident activities demanding water quality improvement saw participation from over 10,000 people cumulatively. Signature campaigns calling for pollution prevention measures gathered approximately 30,000 signatures. This pressure on the administration accelerated the implementation of improvement measures. 5. Environmental Agency Initiatives The Environmental Agency, established in 1971, strengthened nationwide pollution countermeasures, including those in the Fujikawa River basin, and strictly enforced regulations based on the Pollution Control Act. These regulations set the wastewater discharge standard at COD 20mg/L or less. Sources: - Fuji City Government Pollution Report - Annual Report of the Paper Industry Federation - Environmental Agency (now Ministry of the Environment) "Pollution White Paper" (1971 edition) - Local newspaper "Shizuoka Shimbun" reports (1970s) - Records of the residents' movement and interviews with related parties