The Japan Water Works Assn. (JWWA) reported that, as of March 23, the number of households without water in the areas devastated by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami declined to 760,000, down from 1.6 million on March 15.
The number of households receiving tap water in impacted areas rose to 1.34 million, thanks to the efforts of water utilities working to repair damaged pipes.
JWWA and water utilities throughout Japan have sent staff to three prefectures: Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima. Their first task has been to help people access tap water, followed by developing plans for recovering service in areas still without service.
JWWA has dispatched trucks with water tanks to the region. In collaboration with 361 water utilities nationwide, the association has acquired 462 trucks; 311 already have been put into service.
Source: American Water Works Assn.
