Presentation on the Water-Energy nexus in Japan, by Hisaya Sawano, Government of Japan at 2014 UN-Water Annual International Zaragoza Conference. Preparing for World Water Day 2014: Partnerships for improving water and energy access, efficiency and sustainability. 13-16 January 2014

1. WATER-ENERGY NEXUS in JAPAN
Water Resources Department, Ministry of
Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), JAPAN
0

2. Water Resources Management in Japan
Precipitation
降水
Environmental
環境保全
conservation
Conservation of
水源地保全
Upstream
水道原水規制
Reuse of
雑用水利用
Water
森林の保全 Hydraulic
Forest
Conservation電源開発
Power
Regulation of
Tap Water
水道水源規制
Regulation of Tap
Water in catchment
area
Evaporation
蒸発
Development
水資源開発
of catchment
水源地域対策
Area
Regulation of
地下水規制
Ground Water
工業用水規制
Regulation for
Paddy Field
水田の保全
Conservation
ビル用水規制
Industrial
貯水
Impoundment
Water
河川管理
River
Sewage
下水道事業
Environmental
水面の確保
Flow
緑地整備
Afforestation
System
Conservatio
水質保全
n of Water
Irrigation Water Use
農業用水利用 水質保全
Regulation for
Management
Conservation of
Water
Water Buildings
of Quality
Industrial Water
工業用水利用
Tap Water
水道事業
Penetration
浸透
Supply
Quality
Discharge to
River
河川流出
Sound water cycle
水循環系の健全化
Water Usage
水利用
Water Treatment
水処理
1

3. Water Resources Development in Japan
■Since 1950
■Metropolitan area
○Sharp increase in water demand
○ Serious water shortage
○Securing stable water supply
○Comprehensive/efficient development of
river systems
○Rapid funding
130,000
120,000
Population (thousands of people)
○Industrial development
○Rapid increase / concentration of urban
population
○Improved living standards
○ Population changes
人
口
（
千
人
）
110,000
100,000
90,000
80,000
Rapid increase /
concentration of
urban population
70,000
60,000
50,000
1940
1947
1950
1955
1960
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
○Changes in water consumption
18
16
Water Resources Development Promotion Law
•
•
•
•
Established in 1961
Basis for rational development & utilization of
water resources
Designation of strategic river basins （cross
prefectures）
National government makes a water use plan for
strategic river basins in order to facilitate the
consensus among stakeholders
使用量（１０億m3/年）
(billion ㎥/year)
14
12
10
Sharp increase in
water demand 水需要の激増
8
6
4
2
0
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2

4. Basic Plan for Water Resources Development
Water Resources Department of MLIT ： Secretariat of National Land Development Council subcommittee meetings on
water resources development, Formulation of original plan, Conducting basic surveys
[Investigation Item]
Formulation of original plan
Supply area in the target year
Deliberation by National Land
Development Council
Estimation of demand in the target year
Supply target in the year
subcommittee meetings on water
resources development
Barrage
Purification Plant
(Planning)
Farmland
Irrigation Water
Purification
Plant
Industrial water
Plants
River
Buildings Houses
Drinking water
Formulation of draft plan
Discussion
among related
ministries
Supply Area
Dam
Inquiry session
among related
prefectures
Basic surveys
Dam
Cabinet approval
Ocean
Decision by Minister of Land,
Infrastructure, Transportation
and Tourism
3

5. Basic Plan for Water Resources Development
Description of basic plan
1) Prospect for water demand & Supply target for different
uses
2) Basic matters for the construction of necessary facilities
to achieve supply target
3) Other important matters for rational and comprehensive
development & utilization of water resources
Ocean
4

6. Promote Low Head Hydro Power Generation and Utilize Sewage Resources
○Due to the tight condition of energy supply and progress of global warming, there is a growing demand for
energy saving and utilization of renewable energies
○Low head hydro power generation and use of sewage resources are promoted toward low-carbon society
Promote low head hydropower generation
Power generation for dam
management
Use of sand control dam
Hydro power station
Small hydro power plant
Electric power
generation facility
Hydro power
generation facility
Use of agricultural water
supply facilities
Small hydro
power facility
5

7. Promote Low Head Hydro Power Generation and Utilize Sewage Resources
Utilization of sewage resource energy
 Improve self energy supply rate utilizing the energy the sewage has
 Formulate energy supply bases by intensive treatment of biomass
generated in the region
 Utilize sewage heat by utilizing sewage conduit network in the city
 Promote collection of phosphorus from sewage and sewage sludge
Improve management of the
sewage business
Return the benefit to the local
community
Contribution to the global
warming preventive measures
Secure phosphorus resources
Innovative sewage technology
demonstration project
Solid fuel facility
Applying resin material (nonwoven fabric) that maintains
high density fungus inside the
digestion tank
Latest bio
technology
Sewage treatment plant
Phosphorus collection facility
Methane
fermentation facility
6
<Copper digestion tank>

8. We are looking forward to seeing you
at UNU Headquarter in Tokyo, Japan in March 2014
Photos from Japan Water Week Photo Awards 2013
7