Published the third report on the incident in which wastewater containing benzene was discharged from the Okayama plant. Reports progress in identifying the cause, implementation status of measures to prevent discharge and address groundwater, and recurrence prevention measures. 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Reports progress in identifying the cause, implementation status of measures to prevent discharge and address groundwater, and recurrence prevention measures. Impact is undetermined, but recurrence prevention and environmental measures are being strengthened.","jir_summary":"### Overview of the Incident and Current Status\nThis report is the third update on the incident in which wastewater containing benzene was found to be discharging near the seawall foundation at Yoshiura Coast in front of the Okayama plant. The discharged substances are benzene, toluene, and xylene. The incident was discovered on July 14, and investigations since July 17 have identified locations that may be the source of the discharge. Potential causes include deterioration of the drainage pit at Plant No. 6 and defects in the drainage channel and cracks in buried piping at Plant No. 7. Additional investigations will be conducted to further identify the cause.\n\n### Recurrence Prevention, Environmental Measures, and Operational Impact\nTo prevent further discharge, the affected plant's operations have been suspended and waste liquid removed from the drainage pit. Groundwater pumping and well monitoring have been implemented and continue, and water quality surveys are ongoing. Flow paths around the seawall have been sealed and new discharge prevention measures confirmed. To prevent spread of groundwater contamination, a borehole survey will be conducted and consideration given to barrier pumping wells, with the target to complete countermeasure construction by March 2027.","jir_financial_highlights":"Net Sales: Unknown (Unknown)","jir_category":"","jir_hashtags":"#HokkoChemicalIndustryCoLtd, #StrengtheningEnvironmentalMeasures, #WastewaterDischargeResponse","jir_key_figures":"Benzene: 1.5\uff5e4.6 mg\/L (discharge standard 0.1 mg\/L)\nToluene: 23.7\uff5e37.3 mg\/L\nXylene: 12.1\uff5e22.4 mg\/L\nGroundwater countermeasures: Consideration of barrier pumping wells, planned borehole survey, target for completion of countermeasure construction March 2027","jir_meta_title":"Hokko Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. \u2014 Okayama Plant Wastewater Discharge Third Report | Cause Investigation and Recurrence Prevention since July 2026","jir_meta_description":"Third report on wastewater discharge containing benzene from the Okayama plant. Announces progress in cause identification, discharge prevention and groundwater countermeasures, and specific recurrence prevention measures. Impact remains undetermined while environmental measures are strengthened.","jir_og_title":"Hokko Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. \u2014 Wastewater Discharge Third Report: Investigating Causes and Preventing Recurrence","jir_og_description":"Published the third report on the wastewater discharge issue at the Okayama plant. Details potential causes, planned responses, groundwater countermeasures, and recurrence prevention plans.","jir_og_image_url":"\/assets\/og\/company-general_ir.jpg","jir_chart_data_collection":"[]","ir_related_company":17590,"ir_release_date":"","ir_type":"","ir_is_new":false,"ir_document_url":"","jir_ir_type":"disclosure_update","footnotes":""},"sector":[],"importance":[],"class_list":["post-133564","ir_release","type-ir_release","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\n