In 1966, the Yokkaichi and Suzukawater bodieswere nominated a 'designated water bodies' under the Water Quality Control Law, and restrictions were imposed on factory wastewater discharged into waters.
Water pollution was becoming an increasingly serious issue all over the country, so the Water Pollution Control Law was passed in 1970 with the objective ofradically improving and strengthening nationwide systems for effluent control.
Further, in 1974, Mie Prefecture took the lead in establishing the Total Pollutant Load Controlregarding the chemical oxygen demand (COD) allowed in wastewater.