■What are the 26 items? 1. Bacteria: General bacteria, coliform group 2. Metals, etc.: Cadmium, mercury, lead, arsenic, hexavalent chromium, cyanide, zinc, iron, copper, manganese 3. Nitrogen and fluorine, etc.: Nitrate nitrogen and nitrite nitrogen, fluorine, organic phosphorus 4. Dissolved components: Chloride ions, hardness, evaporative residue, anionic surfactants, phenols, organic matter, etc. (potassium permanganate consumption) 5. Properties: pH value, taste, odor, color, turbidity ■Is it the same standard as the water supply? The 26 items differ in some indicators and values from the current water quality standards for tap water. Bacteria are measured as coliform group instead of E. coli, and organic matter is assessed by potassium permanganate consumption instead of TOC. The lead standard for the 26 items is below 0.1 mg/L, while for tap water it is below 0.01 mg/L. ■Flow of inspections set by local governments Some local governments guide the 26 items as standards for water suitable for drinking. In such cases, the 26 items are checked before starting operations, and thereafter, 10 items including general bacteria, coliform group, nitrate nitrogen, and nitrite nitrogen are checked at least once a year. The content may be revised.

■ What should be submitted for the business permit? When using water other than tap water, the application for permission must include a copy of the water quality test results along with the facility's blueprints. The tests must be conducted by a local public agency based on the Water Supply Act or by a nationally registered testing agency. ■ Test results must be within one year Some municipalities require test results that have been conducted within the last year when applying for permission. ■ Is testing for tap water sufficient? The current water quality standards for tap water do not include organic phosphorus and coliform bacteria among the 26 items. A report only covering the tap water items will not confirm some of the 26 items. ■ Emergency testing after a disaster! According to Appendix Table 17, if there is a risk that a water source has been contaminated due to an unforeseen disaster, testing will be conducted each time. Unforeseen disasters include earthquakes, landslides, floods, and other events that could contaminate water sources such as well water. ■ Is a disinfection device absolutely necessary? The installation of disinfection or purification devices is not mandatory, and there are methods to verify that the water is suitable for drinking through regular testing. Torii offers handling of chlorine disinfection agents (sodium hypochlorite) and water quality measurement devices, and we are also available for consultations regarding water quality testing. Please feel free to contact us first.