Activities of Third Stage

The third stage activities meeting was held on September 28^th 2008.

For the third-stage activities, groups observed the Horikawa River at each of the fixed points from 1^st Apr. to 30^th June. 2008.

Summary Meeting for the Third Stage of River Survey Activities
When: September 28^th, 2008, 13:30-16:00
Where: Nagoya Urban Institute, Nagoya City

On September 28th 2008, the third summary meeting was held at the Nagoya Urban Institute in Kanayama, Naka-ward.

The objectivities of this meeting were as follows:
(1) Summarizing the result of the survey by the citizen’s survey groups in the 3rd stage from April to June, 2008.

(2) Verifying the effect of the Transmission of Raw Water from the Kiso River (TRWKR) from citizen’s point of view.

(3) Talking what should be done for continuing to purify and clean of the Horikawa river.

About 90 people from citizen’s survey groups and administrative parties concerned gathered, and had some active discussions.

First of the meeting, Nagoya city authorities presented the results of administrative investigation. It was reported that TRWKR in the 3rd stage was more steady compared with the 1st stage. They also said that frequency of TRWKR have increased than the 1^st stage, and the value of BOD and DO had been improved near the Koshio bridge.

Next, the results of the survey by the citizens were reported by the Horikawa-Sennin Chosatai (HSC) secretariat. Then, impressions, opinions, and proposals were expressed one after another by the survey groups.

The subjects of this meeting were as follows.

(1) The frequency of the citizen’s survey is more than that of government. In addition, the result of the citizen’s surveys is almost same as that of the governmental surveys; it was proven that TRWKR was effective in purifying the Horikawa River.

(2) In the 3d stage, research groups recruited new members at many events, for example, the event in the Nabeyaueno purification plant, CBC summer festivel, and Horikawa water magic festival. As a result, the number of research groups grew from 165 to 897, and the number of participants grew from 2,262 to 7,430 on Sep 28^th 2008.

(3) In the 3d stage, impression of clearness, COD, transparency, bubbling, and smell went worse than the 2nd stage (Sep.〜Dec. 2007). But in comparison with 1st stage which was done in the same season at last year, the result of 3^rd stage was better in the almost of all survey points.

(4) Artificial garbage floating on water surface of the Horikawa River in the 3rd stage has been decreased than the 1st stage. There is a possibility that it is effect of cleaning campaigns, work study events, and civic awareness wishing for make the Horikawa River clean.

(5) Some research groups found that waterweeds were glowing in the river. And there were many living things, where waterweeds were glowing.

In this meeting, underwater videos of 10points on the Horikawa River, taken in May by video survey group, were released.

The video showed something gray matter like dust moved like smoke on the bottom of the middle part of the Horikawa River. The participants of the meeting gasped at the sight of gray matter, which was raised by water flow of tidal shift. They confirmed that there was black sludge under the gray matter.

 On the other hand, photographs, which Kingfisher Research Group taken around the Nishiki Bridge, showed that tidal shift changed the color of the Horikawa River.

 It was confirmed that, on the case of spring tide, speed of low tide of the Horikawa River is fast; and then not only grey matter but also black sludge was raised up. As a result, the color of the Horikawa River gets gray green or dirty green.

 There were some photographs, which show that the color of the water was pale gray. Some reports said that the Horikawa River gave off a smell like rotten eggs, and many fishes gasped for air when the river became the color.

 There are many unknown territory about the river even for researchers.  Therefore, it is necessary for citizens’ research groups to gather data about the Horikawa River, and give researchers them to make mechanism of the river clear.

  While on the next stage, what can the HSC do for continuing TRWKR, was discussed. And it was decided that, through the upper- lower friendship of Kiso River on civic level, mutual understanding should be progressed; then protection of water source forest should be added to the activities of HSC.

 At last of this meeting, Mr. Masao Yamada, Deputy Mayor, said that he felt citizens’ enthusiasm at the meeting and would reflect it in measures of municipal government.