Current Situation of Disaster Emergency Well in Japan based on Local Disaster Management Plans (1) － An Analysis on the Spatial Distribution

Abstract

Recent recurring earthquakes in Japan have prompted a renewed focus on the long-standing question of how to provide water for drinking and domestic use during emergencies. Among various options, local groundwater supplies, or disaster emergency wells, have attracted a great deal of attention. Waterworks are generally vulnerable to earthquakes because they comprise long-distance pipes that are often not resistant to earthquakes. However, groundwater which moves in a wide area, can typically be found directly below the area where water is needed and could serve as an alternative water source after an earthquake. While disaster emergency wells were used after recent major earthquakes in Japan, little is known about how widely such wells have been adopted in municipalities throughout the country. The present study investigated local disaster management plans to assess the spatial distribution of emergency wells throughout Japan's 1,741 municipalities.