Research Center for Water System Engineering

Introduction

The water supply system is recognized today as an uninterruptable lifeline available anytime and anywhere and consumer need for “safe and delicious water” is increasing day by day. In addition, Japan is a top level advanced water supply nation possessing high standard water supply technology that leads the world.

However, the water supply facilities developed and deployed rapidly during the period of high economic growth are now approaching a period of deterioration with the passage of about forty years. In the case of Tokyo, about 27,000 km, and nationally about 650,000 km, of water pipes are buried underground, which is like a blood vessel for humans. In addition to the difficulty of securing good quality water resources, the delays in maintenance management and the preventive maintenance work raise the risk of incidents that may interrupt the water supply and the deterioration risk of water quality. The management of water supply facilities including things like the appropriate management and preventive maintenance of these invisible water pipes, upgrade plans and the securement of quality water resources are important and ongoing issues precisely because they are directly connected to the lives of citizens.