A researcher examined the use of private wells during the 2018 floods in Western Japan, particularly in Kure City, Hiroshima Prefecture, where there were significant water supply challenges.
Although disasters pose a threat to communities, the ways individuals adapt and recover can turn devastation into opportunities for increased resilience.
Private wells have become a point of interest as alternative sources for water supply and drinking when the main supply is disrupted during emergencies. However, there is a scarcity of information on how these wells function during such crises, underscoring the need for detailed research to promote the use of emergency wells.
Professor Takahiro Endo from the Graduate School of Sustainable System Sciences at Osaka Metropolitan University conducted a study on groundwater use in Kure amidst the water supply interruptions caused by the 2018 floods. This research explored the effectiveness of adaptive governance, where various government entities, nonprofits, and local residents collaborate to secure positive outcomes for the community.
The findings revealed that Hiroshima Prefecture partnered with the Hiroshima Environment and Health Association, which provides free water testing for well owners affected by the water outages. This initiative incentivized well owners to open their tested wells for community use. Consequently, these joint efforts facilitated quick access to well water and supported local governments in their emergency water distribution initiatives.
Professor Endo commented, “This scenario illustrates an emergency water supply strategy that utilizes the economic advantage of free water quality testing, potentially serving as a blueprint for other local governments seeking to implement disaster wells.”
The results of this study were published in Water International.
