“What is the secret to Osaka’s delicious tap water?” I ask you. Today, we’re standing before the Uegahara Purification Plant. This plant plays a vital role in ensuring Osaka’s residents have safe and tasty water.
The Uegahara Purification Plant is essential to Osaka. It helps provide clean drinking water. The Yodo River is a key water source for Osaka. Its water quality declined due to population growth and industrial development. This made tap water unsafe. People desired water straight from the tap.
The Kunijima water purification facility also used the Yodo River. It used a rapid filtration system. This system removed turbidity well. However, it struggled with musty odors and trihalomethanes. These are byproducts of water treatment. They can potentially cause cancer.
The Osaka Municipal Waterworks Bureau and Kubota collaborated to improve water quality. They introduced an advanced water purification pilot plant. This aimed to remove odors and reduce trihalomethanes. The solution involved ozone and granular activated carbon. These were added to the existing system.
Ozone’s strong oxidizing power helps. It decomposes organic substances causing musty odors. It also disinfects the water at the Uegahara Purification Plant. Granular activated carbon adsorbs organic substances. It also removes trihalomethane precursors. Microorganisms on the carbon’s surface break them down.
This combined treatment was effective. It eliminated musty odors completely. It also removed 60-70% of trihalomethanes. The Uegahara Purification Plant made tap water safe and delicious. Kubota’s work continues to improve tap water quality further.
Since the 1970s, Japan has worked to improve water quality. Regulations helped rivers and seas. The 2000s saw a push for recycling and reuse. There is a global need for sustainable societies. This means reducing environmental impact. It involves energy, resource recycling and decarbonization. Sewerage systems play a crucial role. They improve water quality and recover resources. They also enable reclaimed water use.
Osaka is known as the “City of Water”. Water transportation supported its development. However, pollution from factories and homes became a problem. Osaka launched an initiative in 2014. This initiative aimed to restore the city’s relationship with water.
The city installed sluice gates. They draw water from cleaner rivers. They dredged mud and built storage pipes. These pipes prevent sewage overflow. The Nakahama Sewage Treatment Plant was updated. It now offers advanced treatment with less impact. Kubota’s smart MBR system played a key role.
Kubota’s MBR technology is globally recognized. It treats large sewage volumes efficiently. It uses less energy. This sustainable technology enriches Osaka’s waterfronts. This technology helps Osaka maintain its identity as the “City of Water”. The Uegahara Purification Plant and similar efforts show Osaka’s commitment. They are committed to water quality and sustainability.