Osaka City Waterworks Bureau Technology Research Committee was established on July 1, 1970 with a view to examining and deliberating matters concerning the improvement and development of waterworks technologies. The Committee has since remained wholeheartedly committed to conducting a wide array of research activities on waterworks technologies in general, including water purification, water quality, and water pipe technologies.
Many of the technologies examined and discussed by the Committee have been incorporated into the water services of Osaka City, and have brought about many substantial results. The Committee will continue to promote research activities in order to contribute to the enhancement of waterworks technologies.

Subcommittees of the Technology Research Committee (past record)

• A. Preservation of Quality of Water at its Sources

• B. Water Purification and Water Quality
• Granular Activated Carbon Treatment Subcommittee (1970-1974)
• Prevention of Turbid Water by pH Control of Treated Water (1970-1971)
• Subcommittee for the Study of Sludge Disposal at Drinking and Industrial
• Water Purification Plants (1970-1972)
• Ozone Treatment Subcommittee (1971-1972)
• Double Filtration Subcommittee (1971-1977)
• Biological Treatment Subcommittee (1972-1976)
• Tertiary Treatment Subcommittee (1973-1975)
• Subcommittee for the Effective Use of Sludge Produced at Purification Plants (1973-1978)
• Subcommittee for Drainage Treatment and Disposal at Purification Plants (1978-1982)
• Subcommittee for the Study of Trace Organic Matters (1980-1998)
• Subcommittee for the Study of Filter Layer Management (1980-1983)
• Subcommittee for the Study of Keeping Concentrations of Residual Chlorine in Water Taps in Osaka City at Acceptable Levels (1985-1987)
• Subcommittee for the Study of Sludge Dewatering Facilities for Purification Plants (renamed as the “Subcommittee for the Study of Drainage Treatment Facilities Ein 1991) (1989-1999)
• Subcommittee for the Study of Effective Operation of Purification and Distribution Plants (1997-2002)
• Subcommittee for Enhancing Efficiency of Solid Liquid Separation in the Purification Process (2000-2004)

• C. Water Pipe Technology
• Committee for the Improvement of Effective Water Ratio : Flow Meter Subcommittee, Water Leakage Survey Subcommittee, Subcommittee for the Analysis of Water Distribution Conditions in Osaka City and for Pipe Problems, Water Service Installation Subcommittee, and Water Leakage Survey and Examination Subcommittee (1978-1979)
• Subcommittee for the Study of the Improvement of Manhole Covers and Valve Chests (1978-1981)
• Direct-pressure Water Supply Subcommittee (renamed as the “Direct Water Supply Subcommittee Ein 1992) (1987-1993)
• Subcommittee for the Study of Adequate Water Pipes (1987-1990)

• D. Other
• Subcommittee for the Recycling of Wastewater from Buildings (1977-1980)
• Subcommittee for the Study of Resource and Energy Conservation in Water Service (1980-1982)
• Subcommittee for the Investigation of Waterworks-related Accidents (1985-1986)
• Subcommittee for the Investigation of Waterworks-related Accidents (second-phase) (1997-1998)
• Subcommittee for the Study of the Reduction of Water Facilities Construction and Enhancement Costs (1997-2000)
• Subcommittee for the Study of Environmentally-Friendly Water Facilities Development (1999-2002)
• Subcommittee for the Study of the Standardization of Purified Water Management (2004-)
• Subcommittee for the Study of the Optimization of Distribution Pipe Maintenance and Management (2005-)

Currently, the following research activities are underway.

Research activities undertaken in FY2006

[Subcommittee for the Study of the Standardization of Purified Water Management]
The Subcommittee examines recent issues concerning purified water management technologies, including measures to ensure effective maintenance, operation, and management of the advanced water purification system in order to better serve current needs, to conduct risk management for various waterborne infectious diseases such as cryptosporidiosis, to upgrade the purified water management system, and to guarantee higher reliability of purified water management with the introduction of a more advanced water quality management system. As part of its efforts to address these issues, the Subcommittee works to standardize purified water management processes following the acquisition of the ISO9001 certification at Purification Plants.

[Subcommittee for the Study of the Optimization of Distribution Pipe Maintenance and Management]
To realize “sustainable water facilities Ethrough effective renewal and development of facilities, the Subcommittee studies and examines the performance of current distribution and their future prospects in quantitative terms to the maximum extent possible, reports findings both internally and externally, and submits proposal for ways to better maintain and manage distribution in the future.

[Page Osaka City Waterworks Bureau Technology Research Committee under Technical Information under Guide to Waterworks on the Osaka City Waterworks Bureau Website ends here.]