JP Water Pollution Control Act — Strengthened Effluent Standards for Hexavalent Chromium
ENFORCEMENT TIMELINE
Enacted April 1, 2024 (Provisional standards until March 31, 2027 for 3 sectors)
Overview
Amendments to the enforcement order and regulations under the Water Pollution Control Act have strengthened the environmental water quality standard and the permissible limit for hexavalent chromium compounds, a hazardous substance, in factory wastewater. Hexavalent chromium is a strongly oxidizing and toxic substance widely used in plating, metal surface treatment, and the chemical industry. The strengthened standard was introduced to fully protect public health based on the latest scientific findings.
Enforcement Timeline
January 2024: The Central Environment Council issues a report recommending the strengthened permissible limit for hexavalent chromium.
April 2024: Amendments to the enforcement order under the Water Pollution Control Act are promulgated.
October 1, 2024: The amendments take effect, tightening the permissible limit for hexavalent chromium from 0.05 mg/L to 0.02 mg/L, with a six-month transitional period for existing facilities.
Business Impact
Designated business sites that discharge wastewater containing hexavalent chromium, including plating factories, metal chemical treatment facilities, and electronic circuit board manufacturing plants, must comply with the new effluent standard of 0.02 mg/L.
This requires strengthening water quality management, including reviewing the treatment capacity of existing wastewater treatment facilities such as reduction and precipitation systems, introducing advanced treatment technologies, and increasing the frequency of self-monitoring.