Trips in November

"Cold". The weather is so cold in November, I heard that the temperature is going to be even lower then. We are around the end of the third quarter. Exercises and reports began to pile up T_T. This month, we had two memorable trips: a trip to Isahaya Bay and a tour around Nagasaki City. Isahaya Bay is truly beautiful. The water here is clear and the coastal line is much cleaner than my hometown’s, which is also a coastal city . We were guided by the university to visit the Japanese History Museum and the Atomic Bomb Museum. I heard a witness who survived the disaster that happened tell her own story. It is so sad and pitiful for those who have gone through it. We also saw a lot of interesting things about the life of Japanese people in ancient feudal time. The Japanese tradition and culture are well observed, conserved and is practiced every day. Japanese people truly preserve their culture more than anything else. Those trips left me many unforgettable memories...

Isahaya Bay #1

Isahaya Bay #2

Atomic Bomb Model

Remained after the disaster

Dragon Vase? Treasure???

Ancient Decoration Dishes?

Ancient House in Japan

International Conference on Water Reclamation and Reuse, Long Beach California, July 23-27,2017.

IWA REUSE 2017 brought together water managers, industry leaders, and cutting-edge researchers to learn current trends and what’s next in water reuse policy and regulations, technology, operations, and public. The program focused on four core topic areas: Water Reuse Management, Water Reuse Applications, Water Reuse Sustainability, and Innovations in Water Reuse Technologies.

Water professionals shared field experience, 400 abstracts, and a sense that water reclamation and reuse was going mainstream, due to the twin forces of regulatory ‘push’ and market ‘pull’.

A number of presentations on successful research of water reuse were made. The successful findings will help to ameliorate  the emerging water scarcity problems of the world.  For example, a presentation made by Michael McMennis, revealed that a 300MW California power plant he designed had to reuse 87 percent of its wastewater for cooling. Yet industries are investing in reuse to secure reliability. The Metropolitan Water District’s General Manager Jeff Kightlinger discussed his city’s plan to build America’s largest advanced purification plant, to reuse over 567,000 m3/day. This was very amazing.

Singapore has moved a step ahead in pioneering and marketing of (recycled) NEWater to augment on the high demand for portable water. Such milestones suggested the larger world is at last recognising the inherent but neglected value of wastewater, defined by George Tchobanoglous as “a renewable, recoverable source of drinking water, resources, and energy.”

Beyond recent technology advances, timely discussions focused on the role of and demand for water reuse in mitigating climate change impacts, or applied to water and food, urban and industrial use. There is growing application of water reclamation and reuse as key elements of integrated water resource management.

However, despite all the innovations, there is need for further research and discussion on the importance of source control and the impact that the type and performance of the wastewater treatment plant has on the downstream advanced water treatment plant.” This could be a feasible research area for future students in the Water and Environmental Engineering Laboratory.

I therefore wish to encourage all students to actively engage in water treatment research because it is the for tomorrow.

Katalo Ronald

Interesting Facts about Japan

I have lived in Nagasaki, Japan for 5 weeks. With me, Japan is a place where there are many strange and new things that make me feel interested in. Here are the things I discovered in Japan recently.

1. Japanese are VERY POLITE and ENTHUSIASTIC

They always let you pass when walking,  say “Sumimasen” for apologies  and “Arigato” for thank in any situation. The first day to Nagasaki I asked a girl Japanese to go to Nagasaki university, she forgot and ran round to find someone to help me. I was really grateful and embarrassed when she said “Sumimasen” to me, although she was being busy for something. I  feel very satisfied with their service attitude at the shops, they usually say “Arigato gozaimasu” and treat  such  a special respect to each customer.

                                                           Japanese is very enthusiastic

2. Traffic

Almost I’ve never seen traffic jam in Nagasaki. In Japan traffic sticks to the left , everything happens in order that pedestrians are given top priority, followed by bicycles, motorbikes and cars. Walking and cycling are encouraged in the move because it is not only good for health but also for protecting the environment. It’s great, if you own a bike and discover yourself anywhere in the Nagasaki.

                                                          A photo of traffic in Nagasaki

3. All of the JIDO - HANBAIKI (vending machines)

These machines are in every corner of the street! Inside factories and outside gates of private homes. There is a warm or cold beverage option. It’s so convenient .

                                               The JIDO - HANBAIKI (vending machines)

4. Food

One of attractions of Japan is the food. You will not care about the quality because it is always  good in Japan. Sushi and Sashimi are two favorite foods. It is really a good choice for those who like fresh seafood like me.

                                                                            Sushi

                                                                            Sashimi

Japan is really an ideal place for living and studying. There are still many interesting things  waiting for us in the future. I will tell you more about Japan next time. Now, enjoy it…

  _Le Phat

My first impressions once in Japan

First off all, I want to thank Abe initiative to give me an opportunity to study in japan with a scholarship. Although I want thank Nagasaki university staff particularly to my sensei for accepting me as a student in water treatment engineering. To be honest one week before coming to japan I was thinking all the time about my future integration once in japan. I never hope that it will be easy like presently. When I arrived in Narita airport my first impression was the organization within the staff work; no losing time during paper check. Once in Tokyo I felt my fear disappearing because of the smiles shown by people. My first hanging out in Tokyo streets was successful. I remembered that when I was lost in the streets but fortunately an old person helped me to find my hotel with kindness. Since this day I have felt integrated. After that it was about how food change will affect me?

My first eaten food was chicken and rice “tori niku gohan”. I liked it so much. In Tokyo I had already planned my first place to visit once in Nagasaki will be Bomb Atomic Museum. I went there during my first day here. I was so sad this day. Indeed, what impressed me was how a city which was victim of Atom bomb dropping has succeeded to reconstruct itself. Its amazing the speed with which its done. After visiting the museum, I went in some place like the mountain and the sea.

In the university my first days were good. I was in the welcome party. I met Japanese and foreign students and made many friends. So, for the lectures until today I feel good, I am getting the professors explanations. Finally, I want to whish for all the students to enjoy well Nagasaki.

Author: Sidy Ka

 The photo with the two Africans was taken on the high mountain in Kyushu

The photo was taken in the Bomb Atomic Museum

The photo with Vietnamese students was taken in the barbecue party organized by Itayama sensei