Strategy development and evaluation method for water supply planning in depopulating society

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K21502
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Civil and environmental engineering; Design and evaluation of sustainable and environmental conscious system
• Research Institution: Ritsumeikan University
• Principal Investigator: Shimizu Toshiyuki 立命館大学, 理工学部, 講師 (50584025)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: 水道計画 / 人口減少 / 水需要 / 水利用行動 / 水道事業経営 / アンケート調査

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, first, the influence of depopulating on water utilities’ management was grasped quantitatively and qualitatively from statistical data. Then, the residents' awareness and recognition regarding water utilities were grasped by WEB questionnaire survey. Furthermore, situation of water use in general household were grasped. As results of statistical data analysis, the larger the decrease in the water supply population, the larger the decrease in water supply revenue and the amount of revenue water, and the later the earthquake countermeasures for the reservoirs and pipelines were delayed. As results of the WEB questionnaire survey, interests in water quality and water charge were high. In addition, safe water supply was the most important thing to expect to water utilities. Furthermore, water usage and water consumption according to household size were analyzed, and the factors affecting water demand were extracted.

Free Research Field

上水道工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では、水道統計等の統計資料を用いて人口減少が水道事業経営に与える影響の定量的な把握を試みた。各水道事業体の置かれている状況は千差万別であるが、水道事業体の経営状況のおおよその傾向を把握することは社会的にも意義は大きいものと考える。アンケート調査より、住民の水道事業に対する認識や意識を把握した。これは、今後の水道事業計画を策定していく上で重要な基礎資料となり得るものである。また、水利用行動の実態や使用水量についても研究を進めた。水需要の分析は、水道計画の基礎であり、得られた成果は学術的・社会的に非常に価値は高いものと考える。