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Total water levels in the eight dams on the Tone River system that supply the Tokyo region and five surrounding prefectures have dropped drastically, reaching record-low levels, according to the government.
The data reported by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Kanto Regional Development Bureau this week reveals that current water levels at the eight dams are at their lowest in 25 years, since the ministry began surveying water resources in 1992.
According to the report, water levels at the Yagisawa Dam in Gunma Prefecture, the largest of the eight reservoirs, stood at only 34%, while the level at the Sonohara Dam, also in Gunma, was measured at 12 percent. Water levels at the eight reservoirs in total were only 58%.
The development bureau said one of the largest factors contributing to the shortfall is a considerable lack of rain since the end of April.
Prospects for an increase in the water levels in the summer months are low, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency, with rainfall in the Kanto-Koshin region expected to be lower than average through July, Sankei Shimbun reported.
© Japan Today
15 Comments
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Brian Wheway
Is there any plans or planning commit set up to conserve water in Japan? can they impose a hose pipe ban?
papigiulio
What IS going on with the weather this year? The weather is considerably tepid and there is a lot less rain than years before. Not complaining though because I love it.
powderb
As a small conservation measure we can begin by asking the elderly women on my street to stop watering the asphalt every afternoon.
MsDelicious
People all over my town water streets for no reason, even when it is raining. The Kanri building super mops and hoses the hallways even if it is pouring rain and they are soaked. I have seen train cleaners hosing down trains in yards while it is pouring out. What gives?
kurisupisu
It rained today here-it'll rain some more too.....
miyakojimadan
Answer: El Nino
SenseNotSoCommon
Fancy that!
Peter Qinghai
Um, lack of common sense, maybe?
Rain or shine, these people must do their jobs. That is all.
lostrune2
Could be like the California dam drought
Danny Bloom
What is going on with the climate? Climate change aka global warning.
omicron
There are also many schools filling up their swimming pools
wontond
2 words: Desalinization facility.
sensei258
Should say "at " not "in". You don't want ANY water inside the dam, which is made of reinforced concrete
Moderator: The word dam can refer to the body of water.
nath
We need the rains in the area where the dams are I.e. Yamanashi-ken, etc. Not down here on the Kanto plains, and expect Fruit and Veggies to go up in prices later this year, ditto for rice.
JeffLee
At least swimming conditions this summer on the Akigawa and Tama rivers are going to be wonderful.