[Survey on 'Screenings Treatment' at Sewage Treatment Plants] Over 30% of Facilities Exceed 15 Years Since Installation, Approx. 90% Have Experienced Breakdowns/Malfunctions, and Over 60% of Staff Feel the Burden of Treatment is 'Increasing'

According to data from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, approximately 2,000 out of the 2,200 sewage treatment plants nationwide, or 90% of the total, have facilities that have exceeded their standard service life of 15 years for mechanical and electrical equipment (*1). While these facilities, which were intensively developed during the period of rapid economic growth, are approaching their renewal period, financial constraints of local governments and a decrease in technical staff are hindering maintenance and renewal, making delayed aging countermeasures a nationwide issue.

Against this backdrop, Seisui Kogyo Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Wakaba-ku, Chiba City; Representative Director: Kenichi Imoto; hereinafter 'Seisui Kogyo', https://seisui-kk.com), an expert in water and sludge treatment, announced that it has conducted a survey on the actual conditions and challenges of screenings treatment at sewage treatment plants, targeting 100 officials in local government departments related to sewerage, waterworks, environment, and facility management.

*1 Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism 'Sewerage Maintenance | Promotion of Stock Management'

01 | Approximately 90% of local government sewerage department officials have experienced breakdowns, malfunctions, or reduced processing capacity of screenings treatment equipment.

02 | '10 years or more' since equipment installation accounts for 58.0%, of which '20 years or more' reaches 24.0%.

03 | 87.0% have faced or expect to face the constraint of 'not being able to stop processing' during equipment renewal.

Download this survey here.

■ Survey Overview

Survey Name: Survey on the Actual Conditions and Challenges of Screenings Treatment at Sewage Treatment Plants

Survey Method: Internet survey planned by 'Reserpy®︎', a research marketing service provided by IDEATECH

Survey Period: May 14, 2026 - May 15, 2026

Valid Responses: 100 officials in local government departments related to sewerage, waterworks, environment, and facility management

* Since the composition ratio is rounded to the second decimal place, the total may not necessarily be 100.

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URL: https://seisui-kk.com/

■ '10 years or more' since the installation of screenings treatment equipment handled by the officials accounts for 58.0%

When asked, 'Q1. Approximately how many years have passed since the installation of the screenings treatment equipment (screens, screenings washers, dehydrators, etc.) at the sewage treatment plant you are involved with?' (n=100), 24.0% answered '10 years to less than 15 years', and 24.0% answered '20 years or more'.

Less than 5 years: 14.0%

5 years to less than 10 years: 22.0%

10 years to less than 15 years: 24.0%

15 years to less than 20 years: 10.0%

20 years or more: 24.0%

Don't know / Cannot answer: 6.0%

■ Approximately 90% of local government officials have experienced breakdowns, malfunctions, or reduced processing capacity of screenings treatment equipment

When asked, 'Q2. Have you ever experienced breakdowns, malfunctions, or reduced processing capacity of the screenings treatment equipment at the sewage treatment plant you are involved with?' (n=100), 32.0% answered 'Many times', and 43.0% answered 'A few times'.

Many times: 32.0%

A few times: 43.0%

Only once: 10.0%

Never: 11.0%

Don't know / Cannot answer: 4.0%

■ 63.0% of officials feel that the burden of processing, transporting, and final disposal of screenings has 'increased compared to 3 years ago'

When asked, 'Q3. How do you feel about the burden of processing, transporting, and final disposal of screenings compared to 3 years ago?' (n=100), 21.0% answered 'Feel it has increased significantly', and 42.0% answered 'Feel it has increased somewhat'.

Feel it has increased significantly: 21.0%

Feel it has increased somewhat: 42.0%

Feel it has not changed: 23.0%

Feel it has decreased somewhat: 9.0%

Feel it has decreased significantly: 1.0%

Cannot compare: 4.0%

Don't know / Cannot answer: 0.0%

■ 'Aging of equipment' tops the list of challenges felt by officials regarding screenings treatment equipment at 53.0%

When asked, 'Q4. Please tell us what you feel are the challenges in screenings treatment at the sewage treatment plant you are involved with. (Multiple answers allowed)' (n=100), 53.0% answered 'Aging of equipment is progressing', and 47.0% answered 'Difficult to secure budget for renewal and renovation'.

Aging of equipment is progressing: 53.0%

Difficult to secure budget for renewal and renovation: 47.0%

Lack of manpower required for maintenance and inspection: 32.0%

Heavy burden of carrying out and transporting screenings: 32.0%

Burden of processing and maintenance is increasing: 32.0%

Few people with technology and know-how: 31.0%

Dealing with odor and hygiene issues takes time and effort: 13.0%

Other: 1.0% No particular challenges: 2.0%

Don't know / Cannot answer: 1.0%

■ The biggest challenge, 'Aging of equipment', stands out at 36.1%

When asking those who answered other than 'No particular challenges' or 'Don't know / Cannot answer' in Q4, 'Q5. Of the items you selected in Q4, please tell us the one biggest challenge.' (n=97), 36.1% answered 'Aging of equipment is progressing', and 22.7% answered 'Difficult to secure budget for renewal and renovation'.

Aging of equipment is progressing: 36.1%

Difficult to secure budget for renewal and renovation: 22.7%

Lack of manpower required for maintenance and inspection: 15.5%

Heavy burden of carrying out and transporting screenings: 14.4%

Few people with technology and know-how: 6.2%

Burden of processing and maintenance is increasing: 5.2%

Dealing with odor and hygiene issues takes time and effort: 0.0%

Other: 0.0% No particular challenges: 0.0%

Don't know / Cannot answer: 0.0%

■ Over 80% of local government officials answered they are 'interested' in improving efficiency and volume reduction of screenings treatment

When asked, 'Q6. Are you interested in improving the efficiency and volume reduction (technology to reduce waste volume) of screenings treatment?' (n=100), 27.0% answered 'Very interested', and 55.0% answered 'Somewhat interested'.

Very interested: 27.0%

Somewhat interested: 55.0%

Not very interested: 16.0%

Not interested at all: 2.0%

Don't know / Cannot answer: 0.0%

■ 'Ease of maintenance and upkeep' reaches 60.0% as a point emphasized by officials when renewing equipment

When asked, 'Q7. Please tell us what points you emphasize when considering future equipment renewal and operational improvements regarding screenings treatment. (Multiple answers allowed)' (n=100), 60.0% answered 'Ease of maintenance and upkeep', and 51.0% answered 'Stable processing capacity'.

Ease of maintenance and upkeep: 60.0%

Stable processing capacity: 51.0%

Appropriate introduction and operational costs: 44.0%

Ability to handle renewal without stopping processing: 40.0%

Compatibility with labor-saving and automation: 33.0%

Ability to reduce waste volume: 31.0%

Ease of integration into existing processing flows: 12.0%

Other: 0.0% Not particularly emphasized: 1.0%

Don't know / Cannot answer: 0.0%

■ 87.0% of officials answered they have faced or expect to face the constraint of 'not being able to stop processing' during equipment renewal

When asked, 'Q8. Have you ever faced the constraint of 'not being able to stop processing' when considering the renewal or large-scale repair of screenings treatment equipment?' (n=100), 43.0% answered 'Have faced it', and 44.0% answered 'Have not faced it, but think I will face it in the future'.

Have faced it: 43.0%

Have not faced it, but think I will face it in the future: 44.0%

Have never faced it: 8.0%

Don't know / Cannot answer: 5.0%

■ Countermeasures taken in situations where 'processing cannot be stopped': 'Dividing the process and constructing in stages' is the most common at 60.5%, 'Postponement' is also about 30%

When asking those who answered 'Have faced it' in Q8, 'Q9. How have you responded so far in situations where processing cannot be stopped? (Multiple answers allowed)' (n=43), 60.5% answered 'Divided the process and constructed in stages', 48.8% answered 'Responded by temporarily continuing processing with temporary equipment', and 41.9% answered 'Performed construction at night or in a short time to minimize processing stoppage'.

Divided the process and constructed in stages: 60.5%

Responded by temporarily continuing processing with temporary equipment: 48.8%

Performed construction at night or in a short time to minimize processing stoppage: 41.9%

Supplemented processing with other series or facilities: 27.9%

Postponed the implementation of renewal/repair itself: 25.6%

No special measures were taken, and normal operation was sufficient: 9.3%

Other: 0.0%

Don't know / Cannot answer: 0.0%

■ Barriers to equipment renewal and large-scale repairs: Led by 'High cost of temporary measures' (52.0%), followed by 'Difficulty in securing budget' and 'Difficulty in continuing processing'

When asked, 'Q10. Please tell us what you feel are the barriers when implementing the renewal or large-scale repair of screenings treatment equipment. (Multiple answers allowed)' (n=100), 52.0% answered 'High cost of temporary measures', 42.0% answered 'Difficulty in securing budget', and 40.0% answered 'Difficulty in continuing processing during the construction period'.

High cost of temporary measures: 52.0%

Difficulty in securing budget: 42.0%

Difficulty in continuing processing during the construction period: 40.0%

Difficulty in securing a place or space for temporary measures: 37.0%

Cannot find a contractor to request temporary measures: 34.0%

Lack of manpower and system: 22.0%

Other: 0.0%

No particular barriers: 0.0%

Don't know / Cannot answer: 0.0%

■ Summary

This time, we conducted a survey on the actual conditions and challenges of screenings treatment at sewage treatment plants, targeting 100 officials in local government departments related to sewerage, waterworks, environment, and facility management. As a result, it became clear that 85.0% of the officials answered they have 'experienced' breakdowns and malfunctions of screenings treatment equipment, and 87.0% of the officials have faced or expect to face the constraint of 'not being able to stop processing' during equipment renewal.

First, regarding the years since the installation of screenings treatment equipment, '10 years or more' accounted for 58.0%, and '20 years or more' reached 24.0%. The most common challenge was 'Aging of equipment' (53.0%), followed by 'Difficulty in securing budget' (47.0%). Even for the biggest challenge, 'Aging' topped the list at 36.1%, followed by 'Securing budget' (22.7%) and 'Manpower shortage' (15.5%). In addition, 63.0% answered that the burden of screenings treatment has increased compared to 3 years ago, and 82.0% answered they 'have' an interest in improving efficiency and volume reduction. The top point emphasized during equipment renewal was 'Ease of maintenance and upkeep' (60.0%). Furthermore, the experience of facing the constraint of 'not being able to stop processing' was 43.0%, and the expectation of facing it in the future was 44.0%, totaling 87.0%. The countermeasures taken by those who have faced it were mostly 'Dividing the process and constructing in stages' at 60.5%, while 'Postponement of renewal' also reached 25.6%. Finally, regarding the barriers to equipment renewal, 'High cost of temporary measures' topped the list at 52.0%, followed by 'Difficulty in securing budget' (42.0%) and 'Difficulty in continuing processing during construction' (40.0%).

From this survey, a structure emerges where screenings treatment equipment at sewage treatment plants faces complex challenges of aging, budget constraints, and manpower shortages, while the infrastructure-specific constraint of 'not being able to stop processing' encourages the postponement of renewals, further accumulating risks. The fact that officials prioritize maintainability and processing stability suggests a potential demand for practical solutions that can be 'improved in stages without stopping' rather than large-scale overhauls.

Download this survey here.

■ Seisui Kogyo can treat various difficult wastewater and sludge at sewage treatment plants, various factories, civil engineering sites, and disaster sites

Solved with temporary water treatment plants using rental water treatment equipment with a rich track record of 2,650 cases nationwide

We solve wastewater and sludge treatment that other companies cannot do with our technical capabilities based on a rich track record of 2,650 cases. We rent temporary water treatment plants combining water treatment equipment that is also used in permanent installations. We respond to various requests such as alternative processing during maintenance or equipment trouble of wastewater and sludge treatment facilities at factories, civil engineering construction sites, sewage treatment plants, and power plants, as well as disaster recovery.

Do you have any of these problems during wastewater or sludge treatment, repair or inspection of water treatment equipment, or trouble?

Troubled by the treatment of a large amount of wastewater or sludge

Explored treatment methods but don't know the appropriate method

Want to reduce the cost of wastewater and sludge treatment

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■ Company Profile

Company Name: Seisui Kogyo Co., Ltd.

Established: April 1974

Representative Director: Kenichi Imoto

Location: 424-18 Kamiizumicho, Wakaba-ku, Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture (Inside Chiba Research Park)

Business Description:

Planning of wastewater and sludge treatment

Rental of wastewater and sludge treatment plants

Rental of decanter-type centrifuges

Rental of various water treatment equipment

[NETIS] Civil engineering muddy water reuse system (Disaster response)

[NETIS] Contaminated soil classification system (Disaster response)

IHI Corporation Business Partner

URL: https://seisui-kk.com