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"Toward a Lake Kasumigaura Where You Can Swim" - The Challenge from 2007 to the 2020s In 2007, Ibaraki Prefecture announced a plan to improve Lake Kasumigaura's water quality, adopting "Toward a Lake Kasumigaura Where You Can Swim" as its theme in the Environmental White Paper. At that time, Lake Kasumigaura was suffering from advanced eutrophication, and blue-green algae blooms were severely impacting the lake's ecosystem and local residents. With five lakes in the prefecture failing to meet environmental standards, improving Lake Kasumigaura was positioned as an urgent priority. Ibaraki Prefecture strengthened discharge regulations, improved water circulation, and advanced proper management of domestic and agricultural wastewater, fostering collaboration with local residents and businesses. The "Lake Kasumigaura Basin Comprehensive Water Quality Improvement Project" is ongoing into the 2020s. Although sewage treatment coverage has reached over 90%, the inflow of untreated w
astewater remains a challenge. The introduction of environmentally conscious pesticides developed by Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd. and new river monitoring technologies is advancing. Furthermore, the Ministry of the Environment and Ibaraki Prefecture are considering further regulatory tightening to address nitrite nitrogen concentrations exceeding environmental standards in the Kita-Ura Basin.

Improving Lake Kasumigaura directly impacts the health and economic development of the local community, and efforts to realize a "Lake Kasumigaura where you can swim" continue. --- Related Information Sources 1. "Water Quality of Lake Kasumigaura" (Ibaraki Prefecture Kasumigaura Environmental Science Center) *Provides detailed information on the current status and challenges of improving Lake Kasumigaura's water quality.*
2. "Comprehensive Water Quality Improvement Measures for the Kasumigaura Basin" (Ibaraki Prefecture Environmental Policy Division) *Outlines policies and specific measures for achieving water quality standards.* 3. "Reducing Environmental Impact in Kasumigaura Basin Agriculture" (Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.) *Introduces case studies and effects of introducing environmentally considerate pesticides.*