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Episode #4: Is the Status Quo Enough for Big City Water Systems? [12-Part Series]
"Tokyo and Osaka: Affordable Water Rates and Seemingly Stable Services - But What's Hidden Beneath? Uncovering Two Critical Issues" At first glance, the water services in Tokyo, Osaka, and other major Japanese cities appear to be in a pr... -
Third Installment: Detaching Suburban Areas and the Episode #3:New Small-Scale Water Systems ? A Low-Cost Community-Driven Supply Model [12-Part Series]
6.4 Trillion Yen in Pipeline Updates! Protecting Suburban Water with Small-Scale Water Systems 6.4 trillion yen — this enormous figure is the estimated cost to replace all water pipes in Japan that have been in service for over 40 years.... -
Episode #2: The Aging Pipe Shock and Optimizing Water Supply Areas [12-Part Series]
One in every four water pipes across Japan has already exceeded its legal service life of 40 years. Replacing them all would cost a staggering 6.4 trillion yen. This estimate is based on applying Tokyo’s pipe replacement unit cost of 40 ... -
Episode #1: 100 Years of Water — The Beginning of Something New [12-Part Series]
With a coverage rate of 98%, Japan’s water supply system has grown impressively—always adapting to meet demand. But now, as circumstances shift, the very nature of that demand is changing dramatically. Japan’s water supply system has dev... -
Series Prologue: 100 Years of Water — And the Next Century Ahead Why Now Is the Time to Talk About the Future of Our Water Systems in Japan
We turn on the tap, and safe, clean water flows out—just as it always has. But this everyday convenience is anything but ordinary. It’s made possible by a vast and sophisticated water infrastructure built over generations, and by the tir... -
Is Tokyo’s 4-Month Free Water Charge Really for the People? – A Water Expert Breaks Down 5 Key Issues
The cost of this “free basic water charge” campaign is 3.68 billion yen—enough to replace approximately 90 kilometers of aging water pipes. Instead, Tokyo is spending the same amount to waive basic water charges for just four months this... -
Not Just for Tap Water! 5 Surprising Fields Where Reverse Osmosis (RO) Membranes Are Making a Difference
Reverse osmosis (RO) membranes are the key technology behind seawater desalination, delivering safe drinking water to people around the world. But their applications extend far beyond public water supply systems. From household water pur... -
How Do We Turn Seawater into Tap Water?
— The Cutting Edge of Seawater Desalination: Turning the “Blue Ocean” into Drinkable Water — Roughly 97.5% of the Earth’s water is seawater. Only about 2.5% is freshwater available for human use. Despite this, only 0.8% of the world's to... -
Water as the “Most Vital Basic Infrastructure”: Who Owns It? — Understanding Privatization, International Conflicts, and the Lifeline of Local Communities
The 2019 amendment of Japan's Water Supply Act and the 25-year concession deal in Hamamatsu City have shaken the long-standing assumption that "water is a public good." With a history of water conflicts and the global debate on privatiza...
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