Management of Water Works Bureau

※Unless otherwise stated, the figures used on this page are those for 2018 unless otherwise stated.

Delivering tap water to the faucet requires many facilities, and its maintenance and management costs a lot.

In Water Works Bureau, we are engaged in various tasks such as "maintenance of water sources", "operation of water purification plants and pumping stations", "update and improvement of water distribution pipes", "disaster countermeasures", "water quality management" and "repair of water leakage rupture".
And while ordinary administrative services are covered by taxes, most of the expenses associated with Water Works Bureau's work are covered by the water charges you pay.
This system is called the "independent accounting system", and is defined as the basic principle of the management of "local public enterprises" such as water supply business. It is a system established to demonstrate

The usage of water rates, which are the main source of revenue for the water supply business, is as follows.

Approximately half of the water bill is used to replace old water pipes and to repay money borrowed to improve water supply facilities.

In order to continue to deliver tap water stably, it is necessary to replace old water pipes with earthquake-resistant pipes (earthquake-resistant pipes). Water Works Bureau is replacing the target of 110 km per year (approximately 9,200 km of water pipes in the city can be replaced in 80 years).

Water fee income is also decreasing because the amount of water used has decreased due to the spread of water-saving equipment. This trend is expected to continue in the future.

On the other hand, a large number of facilities that were developed during the period of high economic growth are aging and are gradually being renewed. As a result, a large amount of money for facility maintenance will continue, and management will become increasingly severe.

Water Works Bureau is working to improve management efficiency as follows:

Until now, we have been working on a significant reduction in the number of staff and promoted management efficiency, but since Yokohama City is also entering a phase of population decline, the business situation is expected to continue even more severe. In anticipation of these changes in the business environment, Water Works Bureau established a council consisting of experts in water supply business and corporate management in order to examine the future of water rates appropriate for Yokohama City for sound water supply business operations that will continue in the future. We set up "Yokohama City Water Charges" in April 2018 and, after eight deliberations until August 2019, had you report in September, 2019.

Based on this report, we will summarize Water Works Bureau's thoughts and explain it to Yokohama City Council, the representative of the citizens.

Please see here for the status of deliberations and the contents of the report.

Click here for more information on the pricing structure.

Please see here for information on how to operate the Water Bureau, budget and settlement of accounts.

Please see this for public information Yokohama Water Works Bureau special issue.