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Japan-China joint seminar on technologies and policy for wastewater treatment in agricultural communities
1. Seminar Outline
On 13th July 2016, the Japan-China Joint Seminar on Technologies and Policy for Wastewater Treatment in Agricultural Communities was held in the Southwest University of Science and Technology (SWUST) in Mianyang, Sichuan, China.
In May 2015, the International Cooperation Center for Low Cost Wastewater Treatment was established in SWUST, with wastewater treatment in agricultural communities being one of the themes of the center. A proposal for jointly holding a seminar was made and executed by SWUST and the Japan Educational Center of Environmental Sanitation (JECES; a member organization of JSC), based on the consensus that on-site wastewater treatment plants with high treatment performance, such as the Japanese johkasou, are necessary for wastewater treatment in Sichuan agricultural communities.
Sichuan is the biggest province in population of the southwest China region and Chengdu is its capital. In rural areas, there are a large number of methane fermentation plants for individual households, which are designed to treat toilet wastewater and livestock (pig farming) excreta together. In recent years, along with the change of lifestyle, the number of livestock farms has decreased, and it is considered that it is presently a good timing to switch the methane fermentation plants to domestic wastewater treatment plants.
There are many restaurants and guest houses operated by farmers in Sichuan rural areas. The wastewater from these facilities needs to be treated appropriately.
The seminar aimed at presenting the johkasou technology and its management system, and understanding the current situation and problems in Sichuan in order to discuss the possibility of introducing johkasou for wastewater treatment in agricultural communities.
2. Results
25 participants on the Chinese side attended the event; including the Research Center for Eco-Environmental Science Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Department of Environmental Protection of Sichuan, the Department of Agriculture of Sichuan, the Bureau of Environment Protection of Mianyang, the Bureau of Science and Technology of Mianyang, the Southwest University of Science and Technology, as well as members from wastewater treatment companies. The participants from Japan were Dr. Kiyoshi Kawamura, a former professor of the Saitama University, Dr. Shinhi Kumokawa and Mr. Satoru Takahashi from JECES.
After the welcome address from Mr. Yongcan Chen, president of the Southwest University of Science and Technology, the following speeches and presentations were made:
3. Next steps forward
It is the first time in Sichuan that administrators, scholars, members of private companies and Japanese experts gathered and discussed issues on decentralized wastewater treatment. During the discussions at the seminar, participants extended their understanding on the johkasou system and a consensus was built on the introduction of johkasou. Based on the results of this seminar, JECES wishes to promote the cooperation with SWUST and launch a johkasou demonstration project in Sichuan.
