Research
Water Treatment
Water Treatment Process Adapted to Change
Environmental and societal conditions change all the time, creating impacts water service cannot avoid its consequences of. It is vital to understand and take necessary measures to mitigate those impacts.
With the participation from 38 organizations including universities, water utilities and private companies, JWRC has started a new collaborative program called "A-Batons". A-Batons aims to help adapt water treatment systems to various changes, having two specific objectives. One is to clarify impacts of water sources quality degradation that is affecting treatment process in wide areas and to find mitigation measures. The other is to identify technical know-how and experiences to be shared and inherited more widely among water utility staff members and to propose a set of tools that can assist skills enhancement of younger personnel.
A-Batons is a three-year program that started in 2015.
Ultraviolet Disinfection for Various Water Sources
To prevent cryptosporidium, Japanese government requests that water treatment facilities keep turbidity levels less than 0.1 degrees at the end of filtration process, but this control has proved difficult especially for smaller water supplies.
JWRC is now conducting a feasibility study of applying UV disinfection to surface water sources, hoping it would allow for easier turbidity control, in turn reducing the risks of pathogenic microorganisms.
For this purpose, we are proposing specifications as well as operation and maintenance requirements of UV facilities for a variety of surface water qualities.
Pipe Engineering
Water Distribution Network to Address Uncertainty
Shrinking population in Japan and the associated attempt for amalgamation of small water supplies are two of the phenomena whose long-term impact to water service is still uncertain. To better prepare for these uncertainties, however, water utilities are now required to replace, downsize and even redesign distribution network for more efficient operation and energy use.
JWRC has been coordinating a program called "Rainbows" since 2014 in order to propose an effective method of redesigning existing water distribution network. Consisted of 18 water utilities, 19 private companies and 6 academics, the researchers have been working on various issues, including a systematic method of redesigning pipelines, putting together telling examples of efficient network renewal, how to downsize for demand reduction adjustment, and smart meter testing to examine their effectiveness.
JWRC will issue the final report in 2017.
Smart Water Metering
JWRC is studying benefits of smart metering and challenges for its wider adoption in Japan with a group of progressive water utilities that are engaged in intelligent metering or planning to do so.
Smart Water Metering in Japan 2016
Service Management
Rethinking Small Water Supply
Management of smaller supplies is becoming harder, faced with multiple difficulties including the influence of topographic conditions, dispersed properties within the service area, and utility revenue reduction because of population decline.
Their sustainable management would require a thorough review of current operational and management status and to heighten its efficiency in terms of individual facilities as well as a network of system.
JWRC is working with a model water utility to propose cost-effective water supply methods better suited to smaller supplies.
PI-based* Analysis Tools * "PI" means Performance Indicators
With aging infrastructure, utility revenue reduction from population decline and chronic shortage of young staff members, water utilities, particularly those of smaller size, are required to increase their operational and management efficiency.
JWRC supports smaller water utilities through provision of PI-based analysis tools and by offering proposals for improvement based on the analysis of their service.
Analysis of Performance Indicators(PI)
International Comparison of Water Supply Services
Information about how certain water utilities are operated can be a good reference for others.
JWRC is studying service management of economically developed countries to offer useful information to domestic utilities.
In this study, we are also aiming to make Japanese water supply services known to more people outside of Japan, trying to be a point of reference for foreign policymakers and operators interested in Japanese water supplies.
Water Treatment Processes in Japan (May 2021)
List of Case Studies
Executive Summary
No. |
Title |
Water Utility |
|---|---|---|
01 |
Improving operational efficiency through demolish and consolidation of water treatment plants | Chiba Prefectural Public Enterprises Bureau |
02 |
Different water treatment processes for a wide range of water sources and qualities | Public Enterprises Agency Kanagawa Prefectural Government |
03 |
Multi-story water treatment facility for maximum utilization of limited space | Osaka Water Supply Authority |
04 |
Advanced water treatment system that runs on low costs and occupies small room(U-BCF) | Water and Sewer Bureau of the City of Kitakyushu |
05 |
Advanced water treatment for 1.7 million m3/d of high quality drinking water | Bureau of Waterworks Tokyo Metropolitan Government |
International Assistance Activities by Japanese Water Utilities (April 2021)
List of Case Studies
Executive Summary
No. |
Title |
Water Utility |
|---|---|---|
01 |
Introduction of advanced water treatment technology to mitigate pollution by organic substances | Water and Sewer Bureau of the City of Kitakyushu |
02 |
Improvement of water utility management and capacity development for safety water supply | Yokohama City Waterworks Bureau |
03 |
Comprehensive capacity development of water service management | Saitama City Waterworks Bureau |
04 |
Human resources development for self-reliant water service management | Water and Sewer Bureau of the City of Kitakyushu |
05 |
Achieving 24-hour water supply in portions of the service area | Chiba Prefectural Public Enterprises Bureau |
06 |
Measures to reduce non-revenue water, etc. (Malaysia) | Bureau of Waterworks Tokyo Metropolitan Government |
07 |
Measures to reduce non-revenue water, etc. (Myanmar) | Bureau of Waterworks Tokyo Metropolitan Government |
Environmental Programs Implemented by Water Utilities in Japan (September 2019)
GIS Mapping for Water Supply Infrastructure in Japan (August 2018)
Measures to Provide Good-Tasting Tap Water in Japan (August 2018)