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Industrial Water 　

Outline

Q
Can you provide information about industrial waterworks? 
A
、EIndustrial Waterworks 、Ebr> In Osaka City, from the early Showa period (late 1920s) there has been a dramatic increase in the pumping up of groundwater for industrial use, resulting in severe ground subsidence. To prevent further subsidence and provide an alternative source to groundwater, the City of Osaka has supplied industrial water, mainly to manufacturing plants, for such various purposes as cooling and cleaning, as well as use in boilers. In any case, industrial water, which does not undergo filtration or chlorination, is unfit for drinking.
、EIndustrial Water Fee System 、Ebr> The City of Osaka uses a liable volume system for charging industrial water fees. Under this system, customers pay water fees calculated on the basis of liable water volume, instead of actual water consumption. If usage then exceeds the liable water volume, the customer is required to pay excess fees. Meanwhile, the liable water volume for new customers is one cubic meter per day. 
※
Unit price of liable water volume: �E�35/m ³
Unit price of excess water volume: �E�70/m ³
The amount billed includes a water usage charge, meter usage fee and consumption tax.

Requirements

Q
I would like to use industrial water. Can you provide information? 
A
Industrial waterworks supply water for industrial use. To use industrial water, you must meet certain requirements, such as:
●Type of business: manufacturer or supplier of gas, electricity or heat
●Purposes of use: cooling, cleaning, use in boilers, etc. (but not for drinking)
●Water supply areas: all areas in Miyakojima, Fukushima, Konohana, Minato, Taisho, Naniwa, Nishiyodogawa, Yodogawa, Higashiyodogawa, Higashinari, Asahi, Joto, Tsurumi and Nishinari Wards, or some areas in Kita, Ikuno, Suminoe, Higashisumiyoshi and Hirano Wards
To use industrial water, customers are required to install water service pipes from water mains installed by the Waterworks Bureau into their own premises at their own expense, including costs of planning and all installation work.   

Purpose of Use

Q
Can I use industrial water for construction, maintenance or repair works on buildings or streets?
A
Industrial water must be used only for specific purposes, including use at manufacturing plants, and cannot be used for temporary works such as construction, maintenance or repair, so you are asked to use ordinary water service for such works.

Sewage Service Rates

Q
Can you provide information about sewage service rates for industrial water?
A
Sewage service rates are within the authority of the Public Works Bureau. For more information, contact the Public Works Bureau.
Contact Information:
◁ESewage Service Rate Section, Finance Department, General Affairs Division, Public Works Bureau
Address: Osaka World Trade Center Building 34F, 1-14-16 Nanko-kita, Suminoe-ku, Osaka
Tel:�E�E6-6615-7547

 

Consultation for Consent 　

Consultation for Consent

Q
Where should I consult with relevant parties to gain their consent regarding installation of water supply facilities in accordance with the City Planning Act?
A
Before applying for such consultation, prior consultation is required. Which parties to consult with depends on the location of development. After prior consultation is completed, submit an application form for consultation for consent to the Water Distribution Department on the eighth floor of the Osaka World Trade Center Building. For more information, check the Bureau’s website.

 

Viewing Drawings 　

Where to View Drawings

Q
Can you tell me the diameter of the water main installed under the street in front of the concerned property?
A
You can find information about underground piping by viewing drawings at the Waterworks Bureau Drawing Reference Area, on the third floor of Osaka City Hall, or at a Waterworks Maintenance Center Branch Office in charge of an administrative ward where the piping in question is located. Meanwhile, you cannot obtain such information by phone or fax. For more information, check the Waterworks Bureau’s website.

Information Access Rights

Q
Can you tell me the diameter of my water service pipe? 
A
Each household’s water service pipe, between the point at which it branches off from the water main and taps into a building, is private property installed at the householder’s expense. The Waterworks Bureau therefore regards information about such private property as personal information.
To check laid water service piping configuration, you must prove that you are a user or owner of the concerned piping, or present a letter of proxy signed and sealed by a user or owner, in addition to some other documentation if you are a proxy.  
To apply for access to water piping information as a proxy, you can download an Application Form for Access to Water Piping Information from the “Information on Waterworks Bureau Drawing Reference Area E page on the Bureau’s website, and use it as a letter of proxy.

Providing Information 

Q
Can you fax me drawings showing the configuration of laid water service piping?
A
From a risk management perspective, the Bureau is unable to provide either printed drawings or copies of drawings. The Bureau is also unable to provide such information by fax or any other means. Information is also unavailable by phone, because the precise location of the concerned piping must be identified on drawings.
To access information about underground water piping, check drawings at the Waterworks Bureau Drawing Reference Area on the third floor of Osaka City Hall, or at a Waterworks Maintenance Center Branch Office in charge of the administrative ward in which the concerned piping is located.

 

Drinking Water 　

Period of Disrupted Water Service

Q
If an earthquake occurs, how long will water service be disrupted?
A
It depends on the scale of the earthquake, and where you live. According to the Osaka City Waterworks Bureau’s projection, if a major earthquake occurs in the Uemachi fault zone running under central Osaka, water service will be disrupted in about 77 percent of the area of Osaka City. The Bureau aims to restore water service to the entire city within one month after such an earthquake.

 

Disrupted Water Service 　

Emergency Water Supply 

Q
If water service is disrupted due to earthquakes, will the Waterworks Bureau distribute water to us?
A
If water supply facilities are damaged by an earthquake, the Bureau will set up emergency water supply centers by installing temporary water tanks and faucets at wide-area shelters, accommodation shelters such as elementary, junior and senior high schools, and neighborhood public parks. Through this measure, the Bureau will try to ensure that all residents will be able to secure water within walking distance, even during water service disruptions.

Earthquake Preparedness Measures

Q
What kinds of earthquake preparedness measures does the Osaka City Waterworks Bureau take?
A
To ensure that emergency water service will be provided and emergency repairs will be made to water supply facilities after earthquakes, the Osaka City Waterworks Bureau has implemented such comprehensive measures as indicated below to prepare for future earthquakes.
●Making water supply facilities more earthquake-resistant
●Establishing an emergency water supply and distribution network
●Providing highly reliable lifelines
●Promoting measures for dealing with power failures
●Increasing the stock of emergency water supply equipment 

 

Measures to Counter the Heat Island Phenomenon 　

Dry Mist Dispersal

Q
Is the Waterworks Bureau taking any measures to counter the heat island phenomenon?
A
In recent years, the heat island phenomenon has become an increasingly serious issue in Osaka City. To combat this problem the City of Osaka is currently taking various measures, such as the greening of rooftops and walls, spraying streets with treated drains water and sprinkling.
As part of the “environmentally conscious business operations Eset forth in the Waterworks Bureau Management Policy, the Bureau is promoting research and the widespread use of tap water mist dispersal, which exploits the strength of the waterworks system network extending throughout the city. 

 

Dry Mist Dispersal 　

How to Apply

Q
Can you provide information about an application procedure for the Dry Mist Equipment Installation Support System?
A
Under the Dry Mist Equipment Installation Support System, the Waterworks Bureau offers support, from the installation of dry mist equipment through to maintenance, in cooperation with other service providers. For information on how to apply for such support, check the Bureau’s website.

 

Piping Material 　

PVC Pipes

Q
I hear that PVC pipes are most commonly used as household water pipes. Should I be worried about health problems caused by endocrine disruptors leaching from PVC pipes?
A
It is true that PVC is most commonly used as a material for household water service pipes. In fiscal 1998 the former Ministry of Welfare conducted investigations on human effects associated with exposure to endocrine disruptors (also referred to as hormonally active agents) leaching from water service pipes such as PVC pipes. According to the publicized results of the investigations, levels of endocrine disruptors leaching from water pipes would be unlikely to pose an immediate problem for human health, although it was still premature to say anything definite.
Meanwhile, the Osaka City Waterworks Bureau has performed systematic monitoring of water quality at all stages, from water sources to taps, and has found no problems thus far.

Lead Water Pipes

Q
Are lead water pipes still in use?
A
Lead is easily processed and relatively cheap, so it was commonly used as a material for service pipes, from when the City of Osaka established the waterworks system in 1895 until rigid PVC began to be used as a piping material in 1956. Later in 1981, the Waterworks Bureau prohibited the use of lead service pipes under streets. In 1987 the Bureau restricted the use of lead service pipes inside private premises, and finally, in January 1994, imposed a total ban on the use of lead service pipes inside private premises.
However, lead water pipes still remain inside some customers Epremises and under some streets. The Bureau is now having lead pipes under streets replaced one by one.

 

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