Makiminato River is a small river, about 4 km long, flowing into Gino Bay of Okinawa island. In July to August 2003, an NPO "Okinawa Peace Coast" conducted a cleaning operation of Makiminato River by using "T.S Minetase". They poured "T.S Minetase" into the river 3 times, 20 litters each time. It was confirmed that "T.S Minetase" was quite effective in dissolving sludges and eliminating foul odor.

The river was heavily polluted mainly by wastewater from households. Surface of the river was covered by sludges at around Yogei Bridge (about 2.5 km up stream from the river mouth). The sludges dissolved in about 2 weeks.

Following are a summary of the report.

• July 22 12 citizens joined the preliminary trial operation from "Okinawa Peace Coast" and Chamber of Commerce of the city. They poured 20 litters of "T.S Minetase" into upper stream of the river.
• July 27 The main event of the cleaning operation started. In addition to 12 citizens above mentioned, 350 citizens joined. They poured 20 litters of "T.S Minetase" into the river at a point downstream of Yogei Bridge. 15 minutes later, bubbles started to blow off from the bottom of the river, sludges started to dissolve and flow down, foul odor gradually eliminated. Those changes were observed within 150 meters length from the point of pouring "T.S Minetase".
• July 28 100 meters length up from Yogei Bridge, sludges heavily covered the surface of the river as they were dry and solid. Also, foul odor was terrible. At 10 am, 20 litters of "T.S Minetase" was poured into at a point up stream of the solid sludges. No change was observed for the day. At the down stream point, dissolution of sludges was observed as it continued from yesterday.
• July 29 At 10 am, in 3 meters length up from Yogei Bridge, bubbles started to blow off from the bottom of the river. Dry and solid sludges started to soften.
• July 30 At 9:30 am, it was observed that 3 meters length was expanded to 10 meters length.
• July 31 At 9:30 am, it was observed that 10 meters length was expanded to 20 meters length.
• Aug. 1 At 9:30 am, it was observed that 20 meters length was expanded to 70 meters length. Remaining 30 meters length sludges also started to soften.
• Aug. 2 It was observed that over 100 meters length, water surface showed up. Bubbles continued to blow off here and there in the range. Dissolved sludges flowed down.
• Aug. 3-5 Dissolution of sludges continued until we confirmed it was completely over on August 6.

Cleaning operation of Makiminato River including sludge dissolution was video-recorded by an NPO "Okinawa Peace Coast". Recording time is 6 minutes 10 seconds.

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