On October 16, 2023, following an announcement from Kibichuo Town, residents immediately stopped drinking tap water.

Nonetheless, the town did not provide adequate explanations to its residents. The residents took action themselves, and discovered that high concentrations had been detected in the past. They also found a “black lump” that appeared to be the source of the contamination. This was because they wanted to grasp the situation as quickly as possible and take the necessary measures.

However, Okayama Prefecture discovered high levels of PFOA contamination in tap water on October 12, four days before telling the residents. It called the town the next morning, on the 13th, and even performed an on-site inspection of the water department on the 14th. It was recorded in the documents that Tansa obtained through a disclosure request to Okayama Prefecture.

Although the town received an on-site inspection from the prefecture about the contamination, it did not immediately inform the residents. It continued to supply tap water contaminated with high concentrations of PFOA.

On October 15, the day before the contamination was made public, Mayor Masanori Yamamoto took part in a local festival.

At the shrine where the Kamo Festival is held. (photo by Nanami Nakagawa on June 24, 2024)

A chance discovery by a public health official

On October 12, 2023, Ryusuke Kobayashi of the Water Supply Team of the Environmental Health Division of the Bizen Public Health Center in Okayama Prefecture was reviewing the results of water quality tests at water purification plants in the prefecture.

What caught Kobayashi’s attention was the PFAS values.

There have been many reports of PFAS, which are harmful to the human body, being detected in water environments across the country. Although there have been no reports of significant concentrations of PFAS being detected at water purification plants in the prefecture, he checked past values.

Then, in the most recent records for 2022, there was an outstanding figure. It was from the Enjo Water Purification Plant in Kibichuo Town. The PFAS concentration was 1,400 ng/L.

It is 28 times higher than the national target level of 50 ng/L. However, no such report has been received from Kibichuo Town.

Kobayashi contacted the department at 4 p.m.

“The 2022 water supply statistics survey results for Kibichuo Town’s Enjo Water Purification Plant (water source: Kawahira Dam) showed that the PFAS test result value was 1,400 ng/L, exceeding the management target setting value (50 ng/L).”

In the comment section, he also wrote:

“Was it flowing into a dam? Was it dumped? An investigation is needed.”

Case of Kakamigahara City, Gifu Prefecture

At 9:00 a.m. on the following day, October 13, Yusuke Mochikawa of the Medical Team of the Hygiene Division of Bizen Public Health Center called the Water Department of Kibichuo Town.

He wanted to hear about the high concentrations of PFAS detected at the Enjo Water Purification Plant. A councilor from the town’s water department responded as follows:

“PFAS has been tested around October every year since 2021.”

“PFAS testing results are 1,200 ng/L for 2021 and 1,400 ng/L for 2022.”

“We believe the cause was the dumping of a fire extinguisher or other item, but we have not been able to identify the person responsible.”

“Water samples for this year’s PFAS testing are scheduled to be taken around next week.”

“The fact that PFAS has been detected is now known to the section chief.”

Shortly after hanging up the phone, around noon, Mochikawa of Bizen Public Health Center sent an email to the councilor he had just talked to.

He requested a copy of the water quality test results for 2021 and 2022, which the town said had detected high concentrations.

Subject: (Request) Copies of water quality test reports for PFOS, etc. for 2021 and 2022

 

This is Mochikawa from Bizen Public Health Center.

 

Regarding the matter I called you about earlier, I would like you to send me copies of the water quality test reports for PFOS and other substances for 2021 and 2022.

 

I am sending you examples from other local governments for your reference.

 

Thank you.

The attached reference materials were three articles about PFAS contamination that occurred in Kakamigahara City, Gifu Prefecture.

In Kakamigahara City, Gifu Prefecture, high concentrations of PFAS were detected in the source of tap water used by approximately 72,000 people. A survey in 2020 recorded 99 ng/L, and subsequent tests recorded a maximum of 790 ng/L, but the city concealed this fact. It was only made public in July 2023, and the mayor apologized. The governor also condemned the city’s response, and the media also reported on it.

The situation overlaps with that in Kibichuo Town, and PFAS concentrations are significantly higher than those in Kakamigahara City.

“The town does not have a crisis management system in place”

At noon on the following day, October 14, although it was a Saturday, the following three staff members from the Prefectural Bizen Public Health Center visited Kibichuo Town.

Mie Nakao, Chief of the Hygiene Division at Bizen Public Health Center

 

Deputy Chief Counselor, Yasuhiro Yamagata

 

Chief, Yusuke Mochikawa

The purpose of the visit was to inspect the town’s water department. They met the town’s water department chief, Masanori Toshihara, and a counselor. The main points they checked were as follows:

・ PFOA levels detected at Enjo Water Purification Plant in 2021 and 2022.

・The water from the Kawahira Dam, which is the water source for the Enjo Water Purification Plant, is used for water supply and agricultural purposes.

・There is one elementary school in the water supply area of ​​the Enjo Water Purification Plant.

It was also decided to carry out emergency water quality testing, and specific water sampling locations were coordinated.

On the other hand, the town’s crisis management system was sloppy. The prefecture, which conducted an on-site inspection, pointed out the following in its report:

 ・At this stage, the town had not yet established a crisis management system.

 

・The matter had already been notified to the mayor, and as of today, it appeared that discussions would begin on Monday, the 16th.

 

・We advised them to consider specific emergency measures as water supply utilities.

 

(Examples) Distributing drinking water, distributing water purifiers, explaining the situation to residents, setting up consultation desks, etc.

Document regarding an on-site inspection of the Kibichuo Town Water Department by Okayama Prefecture, dated October 14, 2023

The mayor participated in the festival

The Kamo Festival was held on October 15, the day after the prefectural inspection, in the town.

Mayor Yamamoto participated in this festival.

The Kamo Festival is one of the three major festivals in Okayama. It began about 970 years ago, in the 1050s during the Heian period, as a way to give thanks to the gods for warding off an evil disease.

The festival brings together eight shrines in town at the “Soja,” which is the shrine that enshrines various gods. From early morning to noon, people from each shrine carry their mikoshi (portable shrines) and parade across town to the sound of drums and flute. The event’s highlight is the “Gojinko,” in which all eight mikoshi are raised aloft and presented to “Soja.”

It was designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property by Okayama Prefecture in 1959. It is a vibrant festival that attracts many tourists and has food stalls lined up on the streets.

The 2023 event was the first in four years, having been canceled for three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

At this time, Mayor Yamamoto was already aware that the town’s water department had received an on-site inspection from the prefecture following the discovery of high concentrations of PFOA at the Enjo Water Purification Plant.

However, it wasn’t until 5 p.m. on October 16, just before sunset the day after the festival, that the town announced the contamination of its tap water to its residents.

To be continued.

(Originally published in Japanese on June 25, 2024. Translation by Mana Shibata.)

Polluted with PFOA: All articles