Water Resources
In Our Business Operations
Kajima recognizes that water contamination in the surrounding environment, floods, and droughts are the typical water risks in its business operations. To ensure appropriate responses to these risks, it positions the preservation of local water environments as a key issue and works on measures to reduce water use. More specifically, through the initiatives listed below, it contributes to conserving water resources in its business operations.
Company Offices and Developed Properties
Kajima always considers how to integrate water-saving equipment, water-recycling systems, and rainwater infiltration systems when building or renovating its offices or the properties it develops/has developed.
Kajima monitors and analyzes water use by its offices in Japan at 10 locations and has introduced water-saving equipment, water-recycling systems, and rainwater infiltration systems. Currently, water-saving equipment is installed at 6 offices, and both water-recycling and rainwater infiltration systems at 4 offices. Similarly, for properties Kajima has developed in 45 locations in Japan, 33 have water-saving equipment, 18 have a water-recycling system, and 11 have a rainwater infiltration system.
Architectural Design
In its architectural design business, Kajima produces designs that take water resources into consideration. Listed below are the items that must be considered during the design process:
- Water-saving equipment, water-recycling systems, and rainwater infiltration systems
- Using hazard maps to assess flood risks by checking flood depths and the like
Construction
Companies in the construction industry are not at liberty to be selective about construction sites.
If we are asked to construct facilities in an area with high water-related physical risks, we consult water-stress and hazard maps to assess local water risks (such as restrictions related to the quantities of water intake and discharge and the quality of water, as well as the possibility for water damage) at each site before construction work starts. We consider appropriate flood control measures, develop water management plans, and then carry out construction work.
When planning water management, we strive to recycle water and reduce the quantities of water intake and discharge, and place particular emphasis on controlling the quality of discharged water.
We consult with local water stakeholders as needed, we carry out daily on-site management in accordance with our own control standards that go beyond statutory requirements, and we send personnel from branch offices and the Head Office to patrol construction sites and check the status of water quality management. Through these measures, we work thoroughly to prevent the contamination of local water resources.
The results of water quality management activities (such as regulatory non-compliance) are available under “Nature Positivity“ in "Targets and Actual Figures."
Business Activities in Water-stressed Areas
Depletion of water resources resulting from corporate business activities has a significant impact on local communities in a water-stressed area with very tight water resources. For this reason, using the World Resources Institute’s Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas, Kajima examined the water stress in areas serving as our important business activity bases (construction sites, Kajima offices, and properties developed by Kajima) (Table 1).
Table 1 Water stress of important business activity bases according to the Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas
| Business | Japan / Overseas |
Studied bases |
Water stress | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Low |
2 Low - medium |
3 Medium - high |
4 High |
5 Very high |
|||
| Construction business (civil engineering) |
Japan | 62 | 8 | 28 | 26 | 0 | 0 |
| Overseas | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Construction business (building construction) |
Japan | 65 | 5 | 31 | 29 | 0 | 0 |
| Overseas | 70 | 12 | 13 | 16 | 22 | 7 | |
| Real estate development business |
Japan | 38 | 2 | 11 | 25 | 0 | 0 |
| Overseas | 23 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 2 | |
| Office | Japan | 8 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Overseas | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | |
(1) Business activities in Japan
The result of studying business bases in Japan found no bases in areas with a water stress level of 4 or higher (High).
(2) Business activities outside Japan
The result of study of business bases outside Japan found that 40 bases were in areas with a water stress level of 4 or higher (High). For all of them, Kajima is implementing appropriate water management in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations of the relevant country.
Targets and Actual Figures
The Environmental Data page shows the amount of tap water consumption and wastewater discharge.
Solving Customer Issues
Changes in climate patterns, population growth, and other factors have turned water resource conservation into an important issue for customers. Japan in particular is facing a growing need to upgrade its water and sewage treatment plants and other life infrastructure facilities due to issues including aging and insufficient earthquake resistance. In light of this, private finance initiatives (PFIs), which use private funds, and public-private partnerships (PPPs), in which costs are shared between the public and private sectors, are attracting attention.
Kajima has been providing technological and business support to many PFI projects such as for the Tsubame-Yahiko Integrated Water Treatment Plant (Niigata Prefecture) and Mitsuke City Aoki Water Treatment Plant (Niigata Prefecture).
Cooperation with an outside group
Kajima Resort Corporation, a group company, operates a resort business including villa development and management of a golf course, tennis courts, lodges, etc. on a project site of about 4.3 km² on the Tateshina Highlands in the western foothills of the Yatsugatake Mountains. As a part of the resort business, the company manages water-supply operations jointly with the Chino City government. Every ten years they discuss and agree on the population the resort serves and the amount of water supplied, and create a water use plan accordingly.
