Water Resources
As global social challenges, there are concerns that the population increase, excessive use of water resources by businesses, and the resultant contamination, as well as water shortages caused by climate change might destabilize water supply and affect the water environment and ecosystem. The Obayashi Group endeavors to reduce the consumption of water resources through their efficient use and to reduce environmental impact by rigorous water quality management.
Responses to Water Risks and Water Use Plan
In the construction business, which is the core business of the Obayashi Group, construction sites that are our production bases locate throughout Japan, and each site intakes and discharges water. In addition, the consumption of water varies depending on the scale and purpose of works and the construction methods used.
Before starting construction works, our marketing department prepares a check sheet on environmental risks and shares with concerned parties the information they have on water management and risks (e.g., amount of water intake and discharge in the relevant area and water quality restrictions) at the construction commencement meeting and so on. In construction sites, we use the check sheet to prepare an appropriate water use plan and endeavor to recycle water and reduce water consumption and discharge. In addition, we appoint a person in charge of water quality to perform rigorous water quality management.
Proper Water Quality Management
The Obayashi Group endeavors to prevent the contamination of water quality, placing emphasis especially on the following points in conducting water quality management.
・Compliance with laws and regulations
We prevent the contamination of groundwater from piling and excavation works in accordance with the Water Pollution Prevention Act, soil contamination environmental standards, measures to prevent public disasters from construction works, and so on.
・Consideration taken in construction plans
We prepare thorough construction plans to ensure that the use of cement, bentonite, and other materials will not contaminate soil or groundwater.
・Compliance with work processes
We ensure that all our works are done in compliance with our work manuals. For instance, when fueling construction machinery, we use oil adsorbent mats in case of an accidental oil spill.
・Thorough management and investigations
We neutralize construction site wastewater, such as water used to clean vehicles, as needed by measuring pH using automatic wastewater neutralization devices so as to properly manage the water quality of the discharged water.
Effective Use of Water Resources
We use rainwater and spring water to clean construction machinery, tools, and tires in our construction sites. In addition, our Technology Research Institute uses abundant groundwater in its site and rainwater to water the garden and as toilet water.
Business Activities in Regions Experiencing Water Stress
We comprehend water risks in our overseas construction business and appropriately manage them based on the World Resource Institute's Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas.
Approximately 15 per cent of our sites are in the areas with extremely high or high water stress. In these areas, we share water risk information with concerned parties before construction begins and develop a water use plan suited to the areas before starting construction.
| NO | Country/state/region | No. of sites | Water risk | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States of America | Wagshington, New York, and other states | 65 | ①Low | |
| Illinois and other states | 48 | ②Low - Mid | |||
| California (North California), Ohio, and other states | 35 | ③Miid - High | |||
| Colorado, California (South California), and other states | 99 | ⑤Extremely high | |||
| 2 | United States of America | Guam | 7 | No data | |
| 3 | Canada | Ontario, British Columbia | 68 | ①Low | |
| Ontario (Mississauga) | 1 | ④High | |||
| 4 | New Zealand | Auckland | 1 | ①Low | |
| 5 | Australia | Sydney | 1 | ④High | |
| 6 | Taiwan (R.O.C) | Taipei, New Taipei, and other area | 10 | ②Low - Mid | |
| 7 | Indonesia | Jakarta, Karawang, and other area | 20 | ④High | |
| 8 | Singapore | Singapore | 12 | ①Low | |
| 9 | Cambodia | Phnom Penh | 2 | ①Low | |
| 10 | Vietnam | Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, and other areas | 17 | ②Low - Mid | |
| 11 | Thailand | Rayong | 1 | ③Miid - High | |
| Bangkok, Ayutthaya | 10 | ④High | |||
| Chonburi and other areas | 8 | ⑤Extremely high | |||
| 12 | Myanmar | Yangon | 1 | ③Miid - High | |
| 13 | Bangladesh | Dhaka (Around the Jamuna River) | 1 | ④High | |
| Dhaka | 1 | ⑤Extremely high | |||
| 14 | Qatar | Doha | 1 | ⑤Extremely high | |
| 15 | UAE | Dubai | 1 | ⑤Extremely high | |
| Water risk | No. of sites | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| ①Low | 148 | 36％ |
| ②Low - Mid | 75 | 18％ |
| ③Miid - High | 37 | 9％ |
| ④High | 33 | 8％ |
| ⑤Extremely high | 110 | 27％ |
| No data | 7 | 2％ |