(1) PURPOSE OF THE LAW AND SYSTEM
The objective of this law is to develop sewerage systems, thereby contributing to sound urban development and enhancement of public sanitation, and contribute to water quality control of public water bodies.

(2) OUTLINE OF THE LAW AND SYSTEM
The Law prescribes that municipalities shall construct, reconstruct, repair, maintain and perform other management details in respect of public sewerage system (Article 3).
The Local Administration Law also classifies sewage work as a service to be administered by a local public entity, and furthermore prescribes that municipalities administer the relevant service. The content of the Sewerage Law is consistent with the former. Therefore local public entities administer sewerage systems, integrating all the relevant elements from construction to maintenance and management.
Furthermore, it is prescribed that owners, etc., of the land within the drainage area where sewerage service have been started must promptly construct drainage facilities (private sewers) necessary for the flow of wastewater from their lands into the sewerage system (Article 10).

(3) CABINET ORDER AND MINISTERIAL ORDINANCES
Enforcement Order of the Sewerage Law
Enforcement Regulations of the Sewerage Law

(4) OUTLINE OF THE CONTROL
1) Items Covered
Waste water, sewerage system, public sewerage system and regional sewerage system, etc.

2) Outline of the Control
The municipalities which control construction of public and regional sewerage system shall formulate an implementation plan in advance and receive permission from the Minister of Land,Infrastructure and Transport or administrative divisions governor (Articles 4 and 25-3).
When common use of public sewerage system begins, landowners, users or possessors of land within the drainage area shall construct necessary drainage facilities (private sewers) (Article 10).

(5) HIGHLIGHTS OF THE RECENT AMENDMENT
The amendemnet of the Sewerage law in June 2005 (enforced from November 1st, 2005) newly added necessary information to be written in the comprehensive basin sewerage plan (such as reduction target of nitrogen and phosphorus), created regional sewage system to eliminate stormwater and obliged the introduction of measures in case of accidents.

(6) REFERENCE INFORMATION
(Liaison Office for Further Information)
Sewerage Planning Division, Sewerage and Wastewater Management Department, City and Regional Development Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport
Tel: 03-5253-8427 http://www.mlit.go.jp