2014 UN-Water Annual International Zaragoza Conference. Preparing for World Water Day 2014: Partnerships for improving water and energy access, efficiency and sustainability. 13-16 January 2014

Interviewing Shimizu Yasutoshi, TOTO

Shimizu Yasutoshi is Senior Research Manager at ESG Promotion Department of TOTO Ltd. Japan and Secretary-General of Asian Saving Water Council.

Shimizu Yasutoshi "The most significant obstacle in achieving a water-saving society though the initiative is that the awareness creation for water-saving has not yet been fully entrenched in target societies".

What are your expectations on the Zaragoza Conference on partnerships for improving Water and Energy (W&E) access, efficiency and sustainability?
We believe that our water-saving initiative can contribute to the sustainable development of the Earth water resources. For its realization, it is important to make specialists in different countries know of our activity which can then be spread and implemented in such countries. Therefore, we would like to utilize the conference as an opportunity for information dissemination.

Why is the water-energy nexus an important issue for TOTO?
TOTO is a company which manufactures and sells water-related equipment such as toilet bowls and showers. Supply of these products has benefited many countries. TOTO aims to contribute to a global environment improvement through their products. In TOTO, an environmental improvement contribution scenario is achieved by paying attention to the co-benefit of water saving, water resources preservation, energy saving and CO2 reduction. In this regard, water-energy nexus is an issue which forms the core of the environmental contribution activities of TOTO.

How is this water-saving driven plan helping reduce the impacts on freshwaters?
All the people consume water for a living and domestic use, everyday. Our target is to ensure the saving of water domestically without burdening people. With the water-saving society formation initiative, the impacts on freshwater can be weakened continuously.

Which current challenges are been faced for the implementation of the project at various designated areas?
The most significant obstacle in achieving a water-saving society though the initiative is that the awareness creation for water-saving has not yet been fully entrenched in target societies. In the background are also the expensive water/sewage charges. Products with higher water-saving features are more expensive than the ones currently in use in the areas because of the improved performance and technology components utilized to add additional features. The price difference cannot be covered by the reduction in water charges.

How willing are the Governments of Japan prepared to minimize the water-related risks from energy generation?
In Japan, various projects have been promoted for water-resources preservation. Moreover, in Japan, energy security has also been a pressing subject due to the influence of earthquake disasters. Various electricity-saving measures are also implemented, for instance in Tokyo, the water waterworks plants consume 1% of electricity.

How can this Zaragoza Conference in your opinion contribute to improving the nexus of W&E?
We have recognized the conference as an opportunity which can help share the leading-edge activity information and various initiatives on water and energy across the world. We expect that latest measures addressed here will be extended to the activity of each other country.