Getting information through people straight after the disaster

When the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake struck, Mr. Hashigami had been working for Kobe City for five years. In those days, he belonged to the Planning Section of the Waterworks Bureau. Since he lived in Sanda City, part of Hyogo Prefecture, located in the north of Kobe City, he could not identify damage caused in Kobe City at all for a while after the disaster struck.

I did not feel so strong a shaking at home. But no trains were running, so I drove to my workplace. When I went through the Rokko Tunnel, I found that the world had become quite different from what it used to be. In Nada Ward, there were fires on both sides of National Route 2. Many people were in shock, sitting on the sidewalks.

Mr. Hashigami managed to arrive at his workplace, where he encountered an incredible change in the main building (Building No. 2) of City Hall.

No matter how many times I counted the number of the building’s floors, I could not find the sixth floor, where the Waterworks Bureau was supposed to be located. This was the first time in my life that I felt at a loss what to do. If the earthquake had occurred at a different time, I might not be here now.

Emergency headquarters were soon established in a small conference room in Building No. 1, which was undamaged. In those days, mobile phones were not used so widely, preventing the city government from obtaining accurate information regarding damage caused by the disaster.

At first, young staff members went around the city by motorcycle and bicycle to gather information.
Usually, when there is leakage from an underground water pipe, water spouts through the ground into the air, due to water pressure. However, as far we could see, there was no water spouting. No serious damage was identified in any of the 120 reservoirs in the city, except only one. But after starting to repair the waterworks, we found that there was damage in water pipes. The damage was so severe that the water pressure was reduced, which meant that the water didn’t spout out.

Photo: People fetching water at a temporary water supply station


Water tank cars could not supply enough water

After the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, water services became unavailable in almost all areas of Kobe City. In the worst case, it took about 10 weeks before service resumed.

On the evening of the disaster, water tank cars arrived from other cities, one after another. Mr. Hashigami continued to work on repairing the water supply until late into the night, next to Minatogawa Shrine in Chuo Ward, Kobe City. Although it was very cold, people continued to form very long lines every day to get water. Due to an insufficient amount of water and the slow speed of the water supply, Mr. Hashigami was sometimes yelled at by people who asked “When will we get our water?”

When water tanks become empty, the tank cars need to return to their supply bases to refill the tanks, and it takes some time to complete this process. Because of heavy traffic it took as long as two hours to travel only 1.5 km, which made us realize that there was a limit to water supply operations using water tank cars.

Photo: Documents on Kobe City’s attempts to establish waterworks systems that are resilient to disasters and can be quickly restored

Kobe City soon launched a project to establish waterworks systems that are resilient to disasters and can be quickly restored. The city began to make a draft for the project only one month after the earthquake.

To create such waterworks systems, the major premise is to prepare a plan based on the views of local citizens. As time goes on, the amount of water needed for everyday life increases. Based on citizens’ views, we saw that people could not live for more than one month without running water. Our plan is to increase the amount of water that we can offer, while supplying water preferentially to disaster reduction facilities.

Kobe City depends on the Yodo River for approximately 70% to 80% of its water. As well as using the existing water tunnel in the Rokko Mountains, the city began to lay large volume pipes deep under urban areas. These pipes can also be used as alternative water routes. Even if a large scale disaster should happen again, the city can distribute the water stored in these pipes, which would provide 3 liters of water per day for each citizen for 12 days.


Photo: An emergency water supply base warehouse, where materials and equipment to install temporary faucets are stored


Install temporary faucets immediately after a disaster

To ensure that water is available to citizens immediately after a disaster when the normal water supply is disrupted, the city has established 47 emergency water supply bases throughout Kobe City, enabling a supply of water stored in reservoirs and water tanks. Equipment to install temporary faucets, so that citizens can set up and use them on their own in an emergency, is also readily available in these warehouses.

Currently, we are handing over the keys of the warehouses to citizens to ensure that they can get water as soon as possible at the time of a disaster. We have so far left the keys of 24 warehouses, almost half of the total, in the hands of citizens, asking them to manage the keys and perform necessary drills.

In addition, the city is working on earthquake-proofing water pipes running from reservoirs to elementary schools. Necessary materials and equipment are stored at each elementary school, so that the faucets used at the school’s drinking fountains can be used as emergency water supply faucets during a disaster.

After water pipes are earthquake proofed at a school, an Itsudemo-Jaguchi (faucet that can be used anytime) is set up as a symbol of the completion of the work. At the time of a disaster, elementary schools serve as evacuation centers. The symbol indicates that citizens can get water anytime at the school.

So by reinforcing the city’s water supply system through a wide variety of methods, we help citizens secure as much water as possible themselves, from sources as close to their homes as possible.

Photo: Support efforts in Otsuchi Town and Rikuzentakata City, Iwate Prefecture


Hoping to share the expertise gained through the experience of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake with other municipalities

After the Great East Japan Earthquake, members of the Kobe City Waterworks Bureau , who had gained expertise through the experience of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, rushed to Iwate Prefecture to provide support for waterworks restoration.

We went to Iwate in different groups, each consisting of about 10 members. By going there repeatedly, we became familiar with the local geography and were able to move around the city on our own, reducing the burden on people in the affected areas. We also got to know the local people. That was good, because it helped to lessen the distance between us and them.

In Iwate Prefecture, a tsunami brought seawater as far as the upper reaches of some rivers, destroying the sources of these watercourses. In Kobe City, since the water supply from the Yodo River was constant, the city was able to resume its water services relatively early. However, it was impossible to do so in places where river sources had been disrupted. It took about two months before water services were restored in such places.

In some communities, although buildings were not damaged by the tsunami, so residents could continue to live in those places, they couldn’t get water. Since there were many senior citizens and many hills in some of these places, I really wanted to ensure that water was distributed with as much consideration as possible for the requests of local people.

Mr. Hashigami says that he learnt important lessons from the disaster. He very much hopes that local people in the affected areas will not have to experience what he did.


Photo: Letters from kind mothers in Iwate


Kind hearts of mothers in Iwate, who wanted to support those who came to help them

In Iwate Prefecture, Mr. Hashigami and his coworkers volunteered mainly in Otsuchi Town and Rikuzentakata City, located in coastal areas of the Pacific Ocean. Staying in Tono City, situated in an inland area, they left for the affected areas early in the morning, and returned to the city late at night. They were touched by the kindness of local mothers.

Many local people wanted to offer assistance for those who had come to provide support. Some of these people served us meals every other day.

Meals were served by a group of mothers, most of whom were aged 60 or over. Menus and warm letters of appreciation were offered to Mr. Hashigami and his coworkers. Such letters were concluded with the phrase “From a group of busybody mothers.” After relishing such meals, Mr. Hashigami and his coworkers wrote back. Before they realized it, the letter writing had become a habit

I feel that they took care of us out of their sincere feelings that they needed to do something. They continued to serve us meals. I feel truly grateful to them, and it would never be sufficient to just say “Thank you.”

Photo: Emergency drinking water delivery car serving as an emergency construction car


Hoping to immediately rush to affected areas and accommodate all requests

Members of the Kobe City Waterworks Bureau also rushed to an area affected by the torrential rain disaster in Tanba City, Hyogo Prefecture, in August 2014.

Every time we go to a disaster area, local people say to us “Thank you very much for coming all the way. Sorry for causing you any inconvenience.” But victims themselves experience many more difficulties than we do. Therefore, we would like them to make any types of requests, and if we can, we would like to accommodate all those requests. We feel that way when carrying out support efforts.

When volunteering, it is crucial not to be a nuisance to local people. All the members of the Waterworks Bureau, including staff members who did not experience the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, think that if a disaster happens, they will immediately rush there. I feel that this is very important.

Mr. Hashigami would like to utilize the lessons from his experience of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, and use them in other affected areas. He believes that as a member of Kobe City, which suffered a disaster and received support from many people, he has the mission of sharing the lessons from the earthquake with people who did not experience such a calamity.


(Photographed by Natsumi Morimoto, interviewed and written by Aya Yamamori)