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Damage State of Wastewater Treatment Facilities in Kumamoto Following 2016 Earthquakes

1. Outline of Kumamoto Earthquakes

On April 14th at 21:26, a magnitude-6.5 earthquake struck the southern Japanese island of Kyushu with the epicenter located in Kumamoto Prefecture. 28 hours later, on April 16th at 1:25, another powerful magnitude-7.3 earthquake shook the same area.

Below: Location of Kumamoto earthquakes

2. Damage State of Wastewater Treatment Facilities

(1) Wastewater Treatment Plants (as of May 10th, 2016)

  • The total number of damages wastewater treatment plants is 13 (12 in Kumamoto Prefecture and 1 in Oita Prefecture).
  • All plants, including the plants that have suffered damages, have maintained their normal operation and treatment function.
  • There were 8 damaged portions in the sewer network caused by breakage or blockage however these are now being repaired and do not affect the network function.

  • (2) Wastewater Treatment Facilities in Rural Areas (as of April 27th, 2016)

  • The survey of 4 facilities in Kumamoto indicated that, although subsidence of the land surrounding the plants and cracks in concrete buildings were observed, their function is now maintained and they are operating normally.
  • The sewer network of Kumamoto is partially damaged and causes wastewater overflow in some areas.
  • (3) Sludge/Night Soil Treatment Plants (as of April 25th, 2016)

  • The survey of 5 plants in Kumamoto indicated that 4 of them were damaged. In 1 of them located near the epicenter, the supply pipes from a well were damaged and the operation was stopped. They have since been repaired and normal service operation has resumed.The 3 other plants work properly, although there are cracks in the concrete structure of water tanks and pipe leakage.
  • (4) Others

  • 28 people were infected by norovirus at a shelter gathering about 500 evacuees in Minamiaso, Kumamoto Prefecture. Sanitary conditions are likely to have deteriorated due to water outage. As a result, the use of 5 out of 9 temporary toilets has been interrupted. (News report, April 23th)

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