5th International Conference on Rain Water Cistern Systems
"Rainwater Catchment for Future Generations"
Keelung, Taiwan, R.O.C. - August 1991

Section 10: Country Reports and Future Outlooks

Page 547

Water Of Island In Japan

Isao Minami
Kyoto University, Japan

Kouichi Takeyama
Shimane University, Japan

Abstract

So far the water situation of small islands far from main land of Japan was especially very serious. The water had been developed from rainfall by several traditional methods. But there was no enough studies on suitable apparatus and facility to store that rainfall. Then many islands were very strict in water utilization. Lately Japan government had issued big budget to improve this water shortage in remote islands, and they had developed the water of remote islands introducing various technology and engineering methods.

We would like to show the comparison between old situation and present situation of water resources of remote islands.

Rainfall distribution of island in Japan has big difference between north part and south part. But most serious part is the islands in Seto Inland Sea. Then we had performed field survey on water situation on this area. The smallest island was Uwoshima island and the most developed island was Nakajima island.

(old situation of water in islands)

1. Rain water cisterns were used on inconvenient parts of islands  
2. People has clustered in flat: places along seashore 
3. People has been endured serious shortage of water 
4. Ground water had been developed, but sometimes salt water was contained.

(present situation of water in islands after development by government)

1. Ground water was developed by wells and pipe line system were introduced.

PDF of full document available to members (11pp,230kb)