Tokyo, Japan is facing a "water shortage crisis"! Local emergency call for storage capacity | reservoir | crisis
Due to sustained high temperatures and insufficient rainfall, the storage capacity of multiple reservoirs in the Japanese capital area has significantly decreased. Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike called on Tokyo residents to respond to the call for water conservation on August 18th. Japanese media say that once the "water shortage" intensifies, the capital area may take measures to restrict water use.
Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike stated at a press conference on August 18th that the storage capacity of nine reservoirs upstream of the Tone River system, one of Tokyo's main water sources, is significantly lower than the same period in previous years, with an average storage rate of about 66% on August 18th. According to the website of the Tokyo Metropolitan Waterworks Bureau, one of the reservoirs has a storage capacity of only 35.1%. Yuriko Koike said that from the meteorological conditions in the coming period, the storage capacity of the nine reservoirs upstream of the Tone River system may further decrease. She called on Tokyo residents to conserve water, such as not keeping the faucet on all the time while brushing their teeth and taking a shower.
In addition to the water crisis, Tokyo also faces the problem of groundwater pollution. According to the survey, as of the end of June this year, groundwater in 17 areas of Tokyo has been found to exceed the limit of perfluorinated and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Long term exposure to high concentrations of perfluorinated and perfluoroalkyl substances can lead to damage to the human immune system, liver damage, and other diseases.