How will safe water, which is essential for life, be secured in the years to come? The government and municipalities should seriously consider ways of sustaining water supply services.
The revised water supply law, aimed at reinforcing the foundation of water supply services, has been enacted. The pillar of the revised law is promotion of cooperation between prefectures for water supply over extensive areas.
Many water supply utilities are operated by municipalities. There are about 5,100 small public utilities that each supply water to populations of less than 5,000. Of those utilities, 30 percent are operating in the red. In anticipation of continued population decrease, the utilities have been restrained in their recruitment of personnel. Improvement of their services is a matter to be tackled urgently.
Shortages of budget and manpower have been exerting a serious impact on the renewal of water supply pipes. About 15 percent of the total length of the nation's water pipes have exceeded their 40-year durable life, but the renewal rate is short of 1 percent per year.
When an earthquake hit northern Osaka Prefecture in June, water supply was cut to as many as 90,000 households. About 30 percent of the prefecture's water pipes have exceeded their durable life, a factor that contributed to such a huge water supply cut.
Just 40 percent of the nation's key water pipelines, whose operation would be suspended over extensive areas if damaged, are earthquake-resistant.
Neighboring water utilities share facilities. Wasteful costs are cut by placing construction orders en bloc. It can be said that promotion of cooperation for water supply over extensive areas through such efforts is inevitable.
Present management plans
There are gaps in operation scales and rates between water utilities. Utilities that are faring well may have reservations about tying up with utilities operating in the red. Taking this into consideration, prefectural governments are called on to display leadership in promoting the integration of water supply services.
The revised law incorporates introduction of so-called concession contracts under which municipalities sell operation rights to private concerns.
Not a few people express concern about entrusting the operation of vital infrastructure to the private sector. Foreign countries that have made such moves have experienced such unwelcome results as spikes in rates and lowering of management efficiency.
In Paris and Berlin, water supply has been brought back under public management after having been privatized.
Once water supply is entrusted to a private firm, residents in the region involved will basically be unable to receive water supply from other utilities. In view of this, it is imperative for the central and local governments to use strict monitoring in transferring water supply to private firms.
Miyagi Prefecture is considering adopting a concession contract formula under which water and sewer service is provided in a package with industrial water supply. The prefecture plans to entrust the management of facilities to the private sector for 20 years. Success or failure could provide material for judgment by other municipalities.
Due to population decline, many utilities are expected to see drops in their revenues in the future. It is impossible to maintain and repair facilities without raising rates by certain margins.
To obtain the understanding of users, the utilities need to present management policies adequately while having medium- and long-term perspectives.
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 8, 2018)
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