A recent trend has seen an increasing number of people using unoccupied areas in their homes to set up small water storage tanks that will ensure safe drinking water in the event of situations such as disasters.
The system is sanitary because water is flushed out on a daily basis as tap water is cycled through the tank, which is normally installed below roof eaves, under the floors of free-standing houses or on balconies at condominiums.
The government is calling on households to store a three-day supply of drinking water at 3 liters per person per day in preparation for disasters. Water for daily use, such as flushing toilets, is also required.
Household water storage tanks, with capacities ranging from several tens of liters to 500 liters, can supply enough drinking water over several days as well as water for everyday use.
The tank is installed by connecting the unit to a water pipe. Water normally flows into the tank via the pipe, and fresh water accumulates as it is cycles through.
In the event of a disaster, the valve should be closed and water should be extracted by a device such as a foot pump. Since the unit does not use electricity, it works even during power outages. It doesn't need to be carried around or replaced like plastic bottles.
Two years ago, a self-employed man in Hamamatsu spent about 500,000 yen to place a stainless steel tank, 32 centimeters in diameter and 2 meters long, on an exterior of a wall at his house during renovations to his home.
"I heard that it was hard for my parents to get water after the Kumamoto earthquake in 2016," he said. "I feel better now that I don't have to worry about trying to scramble to get drinking water."
Multi Aqua, manufactured by tank maker Aqua Reserve in Tokyo, was installed at his house. With a capacity of 120 liters, it provides drinking water and water for other uses to a family of four for three days.
"Last year, the water supply was cut off in Chiba Prefecture amid a power outage caused by a typhoon. If you have a water storage tank, you can have enough water to live at home in case of a disaster," said one of the company's employees.
Home builders are also calling for the use of water storage tanks. Since last year, Toyota Housing Corp. has been lobbying for the use of the Multi Aqua system for new construction and renovations at free-standing houses.
Sekisui Chemical Co. also around the same time adopted a drinking water storage system under its Sekisui Heim brand, placing 24-liter polyethylene tanks under floors.
Some condominiums have introduced water storage systems. Future Dream Co. in Chiba, led by a top-level architect, since last year has been selling vertical water tanks that can be easily placed in apartment buildings. Miyako in Iida, Nagano Prefecture, created a tank with a capacity of 40 liters. It is installed on verandas or near meter boxes.
"If you are away from home on a trip and have not turned on the tap for a few days, you should use the water from the tank for everyday uses such as baths, and do not drink it until the water cycles through," said a staff member at Tokyo's Small Emergency Water Storage Tank Association, which promotes water storage tanks.
Before installing these systems in an apartment, it's better to consult with the management association or management company. Some local governments provide subsidies when purchasing disaster-related products, so it's a good idea to ask them.
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