PRINCIPAL POLICIES OF THE TOKYO METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT

TRANSPORTATION, WATERWORKS, AND SEWERAGE

Waterworks

Water Supply in Tokyo

Water supply services began in Tokyo in 1898. Since then, efforts to secure water sources and to expand and upgrade water facilities have resulted in world-class standards in terms of operation and scale. The Bureau of Waterworks ensures that around 12.55 million residents (as of October 1, 2008) in the entire ward area and 25 municipalities in the Tama area have access to water services. Waterworks operations of Okutama-machi town of the Tama area will be integrated into Tokyo Metropolitan Waterworks in April 2010.

Basic Figures of the Bureau of Waterworks

Service area, population served, and number of customers as of October 1, 2008. Water source volume as of April 1, 2009. Water supply volumes include water supplied to municipalities that are not served by Tokyo Waterworks.

Operations Management

Aiming for lasting safety and reassurance, the Bureau of Waterworks formulated the Tokyo Waterworks Management Plan 2010 for the period from fiscal 2010 to 2012.

- Management Policy

As the lifeline supporting the everyday living of Tokyo residents and the urban activities of the capital, the bureau will strive for water supply services that deliver an even more solid sense of safety and stability, while also making efforts for operation efficiency.
In addition, while aiming for sustainable operations, the proud accomplishments of Tokyo Waterworks will be transferred down to successive generations.

- Key Policies

• Ensure a stable supply of high-quality tap water
  • Steadily introduce the advanced water treatment* process and promote awareness among the public that this water is tasty.
  • Build a new water supply system to reduce residual chlorine and enhance energy efficiency.
  • Advance the model project in public elementary and middle schools to switch the method of water supply from storage in a water tank to one in which water is directly supplied to drinking taps.
  • Promote the proper management of water storage tanks
  • Purchase on a trial basis of privately-owned forests from owners willing to sell, in order to prevent the devastation of forests in water source areas.
  • Promote the implementation of the urgent 10-year project for introduction of quake-resistant joints in water mains. This aims to minimize damages from suspension of water supply in the event of an earthquake and speed up restoration of normal water supply.

• Broader management and cooperation
  • Integrate management of waterworks covering a large area including the Tama area
  • Cooperate with water supply operators of neighboring prefectures and municipalities
  • Enhance international contributions by, among others, utilizing the excellent waterworks technology and operations know-how of a subsidiary corporation financed and supervised by the bureau.
    
    
• Customer services and implementation of public relations activities and public hearings
  • Improve customer services
  • Implement effective public relations activities
  • Promote the creation of water supply facilities that are friendly and approachable by building up facility tours, having part of the facilities open to the public, and other efforts.
    
    
• Advancing policies for future generations
  • Build low-carbon water treatment plants to serve as models, promote use of natural energy sources, etc.
  • Promote understanding of waterworks among children by having the Waterworks Caravan visit schools to hold easy-to-understand talks, skits, etc.
  • Maintain and preserve the Tamagawa Josui channel.
    
    
• Strengthening the management base
  • Build up the system for an integrated style of management for technical service provision between the Bureau of Waterworks and the subsidiary corporation.
  • Effectively use a wide variety of management tools such as targeted management applying operational benchmarks.

Advanced Water Treatment System

Contributions to Overseas Waterworks

The Bureau of Waterworks has a facility scale and level of waterworks technology that rank among the highest in the world. It is thus expected to play a role as the forerunner in this field for the benefit of not only Japan but the world as well.
To meet such needs, the bureau strives to actively contribute to domestic and foreign waterworks. Staff members are sent overseas based on requests from JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) and other organizations to provide technological assistance; overseas trainees and study groups are received; and trainees from Asia are also accepted through a joint project of the Asian Network of Major Cities 21.
In a new effort, the bureau will strive to make even greater and useful contributions internationally by utilizing the excellent waterworks technology and operations know-how of the subsidiary corporation.

Water leakage detection training for JICA trainees