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Change of Ownership 　

Procedure

Q
There was a change of ownership of a condominium unit. Are there any documents to be submitted for notification?
A
A change of ownership requires the submission of various notification documents. For more information, contact our Customer Service.
Meanwhile, if your property is qualified for individual household meter reading by the Waterworks Bureau, contact Osaka Water General Service Co., Ltd.
(※ Examples of required documents)
Notification of Water Service Initiation, Notification of Water Service Suspension, Notification of Change of Applicant/Administrator (for Residential/Commercial Use)
Osaka Water General Service Co., Ltd. … Tel: 06-4709-1725

 

Individual Household Meter Reading 　

Procedure

Q
Can you tell me about individual household meter reading and billing for private condominiums?
A
Individual household meter reading and billing are now available for private multifamily buildings, such as condominiums comprised of two or more units. For more information, contact Osaka Water General Service Co., Ltd.
Osaka Water General Service Co., Ltd. … Tel: 06-4709-1725

 

Water Fee 　

Payment

Q
I live in a condominium. How can I pay my water fees?
A
In some cases, the condominium manager pays water fees to the Bureau for the entire building; in others, each condominium unit owner pays their water fees directly to the Bureau. Customers qualified for individual water billing by the Waterworks Bureau are basically asked to pay by automatic transfer.

Amount Billed

Q
The condominium manager charges high fees for water use. Can you tell me how much the condominium manager pays to the Waterworks Bureau?
A
The amounts paid by the condominium manager constitute personal information, so the Bureau is unable to provide such information to third parties. I believe that customers who are currently being charged by condominium managers for water service agreed on the payment amount and method with the managers in order to move in. Therefore, the Bureau is unable to intervene in such a case.

 

Water Quality 　

Deliciousness

Q
What is the definition of delicious water?
A
Delicious water can be generally defined as water that has no unpleasant taste or odor, and that contains appropriate amounts of minerals. Water temperature is another factor that significantly affects the deliciousness of tap water. In general, delicious tap water is said to have a temperature 20-25 degrees centigrade below normal body temperature.
In 1985 the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare established the Water Quality Requirements for Delicious Water as the guidelines for delicious water. In addition to those guidelines, the City of Osaka set its own goal of delivering tap water with a mild and refreshing taste, a goal that has been achieved, as manifested in the bottled water “Honmaya E Specifically, the City of Osaka has strived to achieve tap water having the following features that contribute to a mild and refreshing taste: appropriate hardness; low TOC (total organic carbon) level; and no presence of musty or chlorinic odors. In addition, as part of the efforts to enhance the deliciousness of its tap water, the City of Osaka established a target water temperature for delicious water and introduced a water-tasting program called Oishii Mizu Taster, in which customers evaluate the taste of Osaka City tap water.
Under the Oishii Mizu Taster program, customers are invited to taste tap water at a water purification plant in Osaka City and evaluate its taste and odor. The Waterworks Bureau compiles the results of such customer evaluations into a customer satisfaction indicator—one of the indicators for measuring the deliciousness of Osaka tap water—and strives to reflect these comments and requests in future water service.
Each year, through its website and public relations magazines, the Bureau informs customers about whether or not each indicator for measuring the deliciousness of Osaka tap water has achieved its target level.  

Water Quality Standards

Q
Can you provide information about water quality standards for tap water?
A
Water quality standards for tap water, which are set forth in the Water Supply Law, consist of 51 items. Each item has a standard value, established with full regard for user health effect, comfort and convenience. To complement these water quality standards, 27 items for water quality management targets and 40 examination items have been established.
Meanwhile, under the Water Supply Law, water service providers (waterworks bureaus) are required to monitor water quality.

Q
Can you tell me about the water quality of Osaka City tap water?
A
Osaka City tap water meets all the water quality standard values stipulated in the law.
With the aim of delivering safe and delicious water to customers, the Waterworks Bureau inspects water quality all the way from water source to tap, covering more than 200 water quality examination items, to meticulously manage water quality.   For more information, check the Bureau’s website.

Water Temperature

Q
Can you tell me about the temperature of tap water?
A
To produce tap water, the City of Osaka purifies water from the Yodo River with an advanced water treatment system. The temperature of the Osaka City tap water, therefore, depends on the temperature of its source, the Yodo River  Eabout 6˚C in winter and about 30˚C in summer.

Chlorine Level

Q
Is chlorinated water safe to drink?
A
Chlorination of tap water is required by the Water Supply Law. The purpose is to safely deliver tap water all the way from water purification plants to customers Etaps. The chlorine level in Osaka City tap water is about 0.6 mg/l or less. This chlorine level is considerably lower than the chlorine guideline value of 5 mg/l or less, listed in the WHO (World Health Organization) Guidelines for Drinking-Water Quality (This guideline value was established with regard for health effects and odor). Osaka City tap water is therefore safe to drink.

Storage Period 

Q
How long can I store tap water?
A
Chlorination of tap water is required by the Water Supply Law. Tap water is safe to drink, due to its chlorine content, but the chlorine in tap water may dissipate, depending on storage conditions. It is therefore recommended that you drink tap water as soon as possible. When you store it for drinking, keep it in a tightly sealed container and store it in a cool, dark place (ideally in a refrigerator). After about 3 days of storage, you should replace the stored tap water with fresh tap water. Use the old tap water for purposes other than drinking.

Constituents of Tap Water 

Q
Can you tell me about differences between hard water and soft water?
A
Calcium and magnesium dissolved in water are the most common sources of water hardness that prevents soap lathering. While hard water is high in calcium and magnesium, soft water is low in these minerals. Water hardness is the concentration of calcium and magnesium in water, expressed in milligrams per liter (mg/l) of equivalent calcium carbonate (CaCO3).
Hardness affects the taste of water. It is said that hard water has a distinct taste that lingers in your mouth and very soft water has a flat, bland taste. One of the requirements for delicious water with a mild taste is the presence of appropriate amounts of the constituents of water hardness, such as calcium (10-100 mg/l, water hardness of about 50 mg/l is particularly preferred by many people). The hardness of the Osaka City tap water is approximately 50 mg/l throughout the year.
Meanwhile, the WHO (World Health Organization) Guidelines for Drinking-Water Quality do not list the guideline value for water hardness in drinking water, because WHO has concluded that hardness levels in drinking water do not affect human health.

 

Inquiries about Water Quality 　

Unusual Smell and Taste

Q
When I notice an unusual color or taste in tap water, what can I do?
A
If you have not used water from midnight until morning, you may notice an unusual taste or odor in the first-draw water in the morning, because the water has been standing for some time in the water piping inside the building. In such a case, it is recommended to use a bucketful of the first-drawn water for purposes other than drinking. If the unusual taste or odor persists, contact our Waterworks Maintenance Center in your area. Meanwhile, customers who use a receiving tank are asked to contact Osaka Water General Service Co., Ltd.
Osaka Water General Service Co., Ltd. … Tel: 06-6312-1132

 

How to Purify Water 　

Advanced Water Treatment System

Q
What is the Advanced Water Treatment System?
A
The Advanced Water Treatment System is a method that combines conventional water treatment methods with ozone and granular activated carbon treatments to provide safer and higher-quality water. This method completely eliminates musty odors, considerably reduces trihalomethanes (substances generated during the chlorination process at water purification plants), and is expected to improve safety from pathogenic microorganisms such as Cryptosporidium, thereby enhancing the overall quality of tap water. Since March 2000, the Osaka City Waterworks Bureau has supplied all areas of the City with water purified by the Advanced Water Treatment System. 

 

Water Pipes 　

Lead Water Pipes

Q
I have a lead water service pipe within my property. Is this a problem?  
A
To deliver safe and delicious water to customers, the Waterworks Bureau conducts periodic water-quality inspections on water drawn from hydrants in the city. The results have shown that the water tested has met all the water quality standards required by the law.
However, if you use a lead water pipe, lead concentration in your tap water may increase when water remains untapped for some time. Therefore, as a precaution, you are recommended to use a bucketful of first-drawn water in the morning, or after a long period of absence due to trips or other reasons, for purposes other than drinking. To completely resolve this problem, you are recommended to have your lead water pipe replaced.
To supply safer tap water, with the goal of eliminating all existing lead water pipes under the streets by the end of fiscal 2013, the Waterworks Bureau is following a plan of having the lead pipes replaced. Your kind understanding of and cooperation with such replacement work would be appreciated.
However, a lead water service pipe inside your property must be replaced on your own responsibility. Those constructing a new building or renovating or extending an existing building are asked to have the lead water service pipe replaced.

 

 

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