Public complaints about water pollution are important indicators of public environmental risk perception and provide crucial feedback for evaluating the effectiveness of water resource management strategies. This study conducts a comprehensive analysis of water pollution complaints in Japan from 1989 to 2021, utilizing integrated datasets that include river networks, water quality monitoring stations, regional industrial demographics, and socioeconomic indicators. Our findings reveal a significant decline in complaints—over 45% from the peak in 2006—following the implementation of various environmental policies aimed at reducing industrial discharge and restoring natural ecosystem function. The shift in complaint targets from industries to individuals suggests that these policies have been effective in mitigating industrial pollution, while also highlighting the need to address individual behaviors that impact water quality. Despite long-term improvement in water quality indicators such as Suspended Solids (SS) and Dissolved Oxygen (DO), no significant correlation was observed between these indicators and the temporal or spatial patterns of water pollution complaints. Instead, a strong positive correlation was observed between complaints and reported water quality incidents, reflecting heightened public sensitivity to acute pollution events. Spatial analysis further identified a significant association between complaints and the manufacturing workforce, indicating that industrial activity continues to shape public perception of water pollution risks. Our findings underscore the complex interaction between public perception, environmental policies, and industrial activities, and suggest that effective water management requires a multifaceted approach. Policymakers should continue to enforce stringent industrial regulations, while also enhancing public education and communication strategies to improve awareness of individual responsibilities in water protection. This research provides a theoretical basis for developing more responsive and effective environmental policies and public education strategies.

中文翻译：

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公众对水污染的抱怨：日本的长期时空分析


公众对水污染的投诉是公众环境风险感知的重要指标，为评价水资源管理策略的有效性提供重要反馈。本研究利用包括河流网络、水质监测站、区域工业人口统计和社会经济指标在内的综合数据集，对 1989 年至 2021 年日本的水污染投诉进行了全面分析。我们的研究结果显示，在实施旨在减少工业排放和恢复自然生态系统功能的各种环境政策后，投诉数量显著下降——比 2006 年的峰值下降了 45% 以上。投诉对象从行业转向个人表明，这些政策在减轻工业污染方面是有效的，同时也凸显了解决影响水质的个人行为的必要性。尽管悬浮固体 （SS） 和溶解氧 （DO） 等水质指标长期改善，但这些指标与水污染投诉的时间或空间模式之间没有观察到显着相关性。相反，在投诉和报告的水质事件之间观察到了很强的正相关关系，反映了公众对急性污染事件的高度敏感。空间分析进一步确定了投诉与制造业劳动力之间的显著关联，这表明工业活动继续影响公众对水污染风险的看法。我们的研究结果强调了公众认知、环境政策和工业活动之间的复杂相互作用，并表明有效的水资源管理需要多方面的方法。 政策制定者应继续执行严格的行业法规，同时加强公众教育和沟通策略，以提高对个人在水资源保护方面的责任的认识。本研究为制定更具响应性和有效性的环境政策和公众教育战略提供了理论基础。