Water for people.pdf - WHO Thailand Digital Repository

4 9 6 / P I L O T C A S E S T U D I E S : A F O C U S O N R E A L - W O R L D E X A M P L E SGreater Tokyo, JapanProject for nature restorationTo cater to the population’s diverse needs, especially with regardsto the natural environment, projects for nature restoration havebeen implemented. These include the restoration of rivermeandering, improvement of riverside woods and the restoration ofwetlands by frequent flooding, for better habitats along rivers. Suchprojects are being applied all over the country (Prime Minister ofJapan and His Cabinet, 2001). The restoration project of driedwetlands started in the Watarase retarding basin of Tonegawa River(River Bureau, MLIT, 2001c).Non-structural measures of risk mitigationWater resource management includes ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ management.A hazard map is one of the tools for soft management; it enablespeople to prepare for disasters and evacuate promptly. Figure 22.7shows the effect of hazard maps. There is a clear differencebetween people who watched the map in advance and those whodid not. Efficient and comprehensive soft management measures,such as hazard maps, are ensured by the information systems. InJapan, the river administrator processes and provides information togovernmental agencies and local residents so that appropriate rivermanagement and flood defence measures can be taken.ConclusionsGreater Tokyo houses one of the world’s largest populations andindustrial spreads, much of which is set on flood plains and otherhigh-risk areas. In order to mitigate flood damage and to ensure abetter quality and security of life in the metropolis, the governmentof Japan has invested large amounts of money in new technologies,structural measures and greater public information services.Development of comprehensible indicators has also been one of themain priorities in the region. Water is of varying quality in the fiverivers that make up Greater Tokyo, with BOD levels sometimessignificantly above recommended standards. However, as both thisand other environmental matters become increasingly important inthe public eye, more and more efforts are being made to controlany potential problems.Greater Tokyo is an area where the public has found a voice inmatters of the environment, as the population is frequentlyconsulted and involved through discussions, meetings and mediasuch as the Internet. Although the region faces many challenges,including floods and droughts in a great many urban areas withmillions of yen worth of assets, the development of such initiativesas have already been implemented feasibly meets and overcomesmany of the challenges that lie ahead.Figure 22.7: Effect of hazard maps on public safetyPercentage of people who evacuatedwithin 6 hours of the evacuation alarmPercentage of people whoevacuated after evacuation orderAbout1 hourPercentage30201020%30%Percentage302010People whowatched thehazard mapin advancePeople who didnot watch thehazard mapin advance0People who didnot watch thehazard mapin advancePeople whowatched thehazard mapin advance0EvacuationalarmEvacuationorderPublic awareness of the hazard maps significantly increases safety during floods: 50 percent more people made it to the refuge areas after having watched the map.Source: Katada Laboratory, 2001.