The management of water supply and sewerage in Japan was consolidated under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Infrastructure in April, unlike the previous arrangement in which the Ministry of Health oversaw the maintenance and management of water supplies.
The Ministry of Infrastructure aims to promote integrated initiatives covering both water supply and sewerage in addressing aging infrastructure and improving disaster response capabilities. The ministry will also encourage local governments responsible for these systems to improve operational efficiency by promoting collaboration with the private sector.
The lifespan of water supply infrastructure is typically 40 years, while sewerage systems normally last 50 years. As these systems age, the need for pipeline renewal is expected to increase. At the same time, the decline in local populations has led to lower revenues from user fees, prompting many local governments to increase costs to make up for funding shortfalls.
