Japanese government to expand sewer system in FY26 in response to fatal Saitama sinkhole accident
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The scheme will target large sewer pipes that could significantly impact residents’ lives if damaged.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
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TOKYO – A fatal sinkhole accident in Saitama Prefecture
One truck driver, a man in his 70s, died after falling into the 20 metre-wide sinkhole
The Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry will cover half the cost of municipal sewer improvement projects, encouraging the installation of back-up or connecting pipelines. The ministry will also subsidise the costs of updating large pipes, among other infrastructure, in order to swiftly respond to aging sewer systems.
The sinkhole accident that occurred in Yashio on Jan 28 is believed to have been caused by a ruptured 4.75-meter diameter sewer pipe that had been in use for 42 years. The damaged section led to erosion of its surrounding soil and sand, causing the sinkhole to grow to be 40 metres across and 15 metres deep. About 1.2 million residents in 12 municipalities were urged to refrain from using the sewage system for about two weeks in order to prevent sewage from flowing into the collapsed area.
Aging sewer pipes is a national issue for Japan. In response to the accident, the ministry began discussing countermeasures for the aging of large pipes which could have a significant effect if damaged. It has decided to prioritise replacing large pipes, which municipal surveys identified as having a high risk of damage, while diversifying the functions of sewer treatment to disperse risks.
The ministry’s envisioned subsidy programme applies to improvement projects for pipes that are 2 metres or more in diameter and located in densely populated or urban areas, where renewal or response to accidents and disasters is difficult.
The ministry aims to cover half the costs for adding redundant pipelines or constructing connecting pipes, which can divert wastewater routes in emergencies, and retention basins to store wastewater in case of leaks. It also plans to subsidise half the costs to replace aging large diameter pipes.
As of fiscal 2024, the ministry found only 7 per cent of about 60 municipalities that have large diameter pipelines eligible for the subsidy programme have formulated a relevant plan.
A subsidy programme for water supply systems has also been planned in fiscal year 2026. The ministry will cover one-third the costs of adding redundant pipelines or replacing existing pipes that have at least a diameter of 80 centimetres. The aging of water supply systems is a nationwide issue, with leaks from water pipes installed 60 to 65 years ago causing flooding this year on roads and in residential areas of Kyoto and Osaka. THE JAPAN NEWS/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
