Water supply in Miyakojima

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The water supply in Miyakojima involves the history and development of the current water supply on Miyakojima, a small coral island with only one river, which is administered by Okinawa Prefecture of southwestern Japan.

Overview[edit]

The water supply in Miyakojima depends predominantly on spring water or ground water, since there are almost no rivers. Although the yearly rainfall amounts to 2,250 millimetres (89 in), 40% of it evaporates, 10% flows into the ground and 50% penetrates deep into the ground.[1] Thus, there is almost no source of surface water.

Geology[edit]

Beneath the soil of Miyakojima is a Ryukyu limestone layer which is porous, highly permeable, and does not preserve rainwater. Under the limestone layer is a Shimajiri mudstone layer of bedrock, which is an impermeable rock. In the local dialect, it is called kucha. Tectonic movements accompanied by several faults have formed underground valleys, and groundwater flows along these valleys. The underground basins are divided into 22 valleys.[2] Thus, 40 per cent of the abundant rainfall on Miyakojima penetrates the surface and quickly flows underground out into the ocean, unused. In addition, the strong subtropical sunshine evaporates as much as 50 per cent of the rainfall. The result is that only 10 per cent of the precipitation flows along the surface. Using natural water resources on Miyakojima has been quite difficult, owing to these natural conditions.

List of ground water basins[edit]

A list of underground water basins[3]
Mark Name Mark Name Mark Name Mark Name
N0 Nishihenna H0 Nishi-soedō G1 Sunagawa T1 Masubari
N1 Nishihara-tōbu H1 Hirara G2 Nakabari T2 Yamagawa-kaigan
S1 Shirakawada (Susakadā) H2 Hisamatsu G3 Fukuzato T3 Higa-tōbu
S2 Higashi-soedō H3 Kawamitsu G4 Minafuku T4 Aragusuku-hokubu
H4 Yonaha G5 Bora
H5 Kadekari G6 Bora-higashi
H6 Ueno G7 Higashi-henna

List of water supply sources[edit]

A list of water supply sources[4]
Name Classification Year of development Capacity（m3/day） Plant Underground water basin
Shirakawada (Susakadā) Spring 1953 11,250 Sodeyama Susakadā
Yamagawa Spring 1968 8,000 Sodeyama Susakadā
Sodeyama Underground water 1972 2,500 Sodeyama Higashi-soedō
Maefuku Underground water 1977 2,000 Sodeyama Higashi-soedō
Nishi-sokohara Underground water 1981 2,500 Sodeyama Higashi-soedō
Takano Underground water 1984 2,000 Sodeyama Susakadā
Ōno Underground water 1993 3,000 Sodeyama Susakadā
Nyātsu Underground water 1994 3,000 Sodeyama Hirara
Sokohara Underground water 1994 2,000 Sodeyama Higashi-soedō
Kajidō Underground water 1965 3,200 Kajidō Fukuzato
Kajidō-nishi Underground water 1995 1,000 Kajidō Fukuzato
Miyaboshi Underground water planned 1,650
Nishi-soedō Underground water preparatory 2,000
Aragusuku Underground water preparatory 1,500

History[edit]

Entrance to Yamatu-gā
Yamatu-gā

In the past, water in deep caves was used, as suggested by their language. Namely, the spring is called urigā, which means "going down into the cave and drawing water from the spring".

It was usually several meters deep into the ground, in some cases, 20 meters by stepping down the stone steps.[5] In the 13th century, excavation of wells started[6] and in an early 18th-century document,[7] 59 wells were recorded. Among them, Yamatsugā which was developed in 1720, was designated as an important site by the Hirara City (now Miyakojima City) education committee. It was a rich spring, and was used only by the government officials at the time. There was a guard posted at the spring.[8] It was the duty of women to go down to the caves and draw water, and since the Meiji era, girls went down to the caves and draw water, as adult women had other duties.[9] Due to the increase in population, it became a business to sell water from neighboring places.[10]

Collecting rainwater in large vases and tanks started in the Taishō era (1912–1925). The first water supply by manpower was made in 1924; men walked inside a treadmill 5 meters in diameter, which drew up a chain of water vases continuously from a well, 23 meters deep. The inventor was Chōgi Itosu, who sold the obtained water. A modern water supply plan was proposed in 1934 in Hirara, but in vain. In 1943, the Japanese Navy completed the first water supply from the Susakadā Well, and after 1945, US forces improved and used it.[11]

In March 1951, a formal construction plan for a water supply from Susakadā to Sodeyama was made and the construction started on March 27, 1952. Many citizens participated in the construction with pleasure.[12] Service started on May 4, 1953. In 1954, the construction of water supply started in Gusukube town and by 1977, water supply service covered the entire Miyakojima.[13]

In May 1964, the US government established the Miyakojima water supply agency, but it was abolished by the inhabitants. On July 1, 1965, a Miyakojima water supply and sewage organization was established[14] Due to the increase in the demand of water, investigations on the situation of ground water were started in 1962. On July 15, 1965, Miyakojima ground water control regulations were determined; which were renewed on May 23, 1987.[15] In 1973, there was a considerable drought in Miyakojima; leading to the investigation for new water sources. Projects for an underground dam and the conversion of Yonaha Bay into a fresh water lake were considered. The Yonaha Bay project met an opposition campaign in 1981 and was cancelled in 1983. The underground dam project continued and the Fukuzato underground dam and Sunakawa underground dam were completed in 1998.[16] In 1993, rainfall dropped to two-thirds of the annual mean. Water restrictions continued from January 21 to April 1.[17]

Present water sources[edit]

There are springs in the caves such as Yamatu-gā, Susakadā, Bisa-gā, Bora-gā and Kubaka-gā. There is only one river flowing on the surface, Sakida-gā, only 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) long. The largest spring, called Susakadā, covered all areas of Miyakojima; but after the drought of 1971, the water source of Sodeyama was developed. After the drought of 1993, water sources of Ōno, Nyātsu, Sokohara were developed. There are Sodeyama Purification Plant and Kajidō Purification Plant, and service reservoirs are at Hisamatsu, Shijō, Karimata and Bora.[18] Two underground reservoirs were completed in 1989 in Susakadā, both 40,000 cubic meters.[19] The water in Miyakojima is hard water, which is unsatisfactory both in taste and in the handling of metallic tableware. In 1999, adjustments to the pH were started at Sodeyama with water softening using lime softening in a pellet-reactor.[20] Strict surveillance of the quality of the water supply is being done to prevent contamination through infiltration by fertilizers and other sources of local drainage.[21]

References[edit]

  • Kuniki Shimoji, Nature of Miyakojima and Water in Miyakojima, 2001, Okinawa Kankyo Club.
  • Miyakojima Water Supply Record Editing Committee.　Miyakojima Water Supply Records, 1967, Miyakojima Water Supply Organization.
  • Miyakojima Water Supply Organization, Miyakojima Water Supply Records 2 1996.
  • Hirara City History Editing Committee, History of Miyakojima City,Vol. 1 Prehistory-Modern History, 1979, Hirara City.
  • Yasuhiro Nakanishi, Ground Water Conservation in a sub-tropical coral island, 2002, Miyako Groundwater Conservation Council.
  • Masaji Nakasone, Miyako Fudoki 1988, Hirugisha. Naha.
  • Akira Tokuyama,Culture of Water in Miyakojima 2008, In second series of Nature and Culture of Miyakojima pp 99. ISBN 978-4-89982-135-9.

Footnotes[edit]

  1. ^ Hirara City History[1979:11]Nakanishi[2002:64]
  2. ^ Nihon no Chikei2001, ISBN 4-13-064717-2
  3. ^ Miyakojima Water Organization[1996:224]
  4. ^ Miyakojima Water Organization[1996:189]
  5. ^ Tokuyama[2008:]
  6. ^ Miyakojima Water Committee[1967:17]
  7. ^ Hirara City History[1979:190]
  8. ^ Nakasone[1988:261-262]
  9. ^ Nakasone[1988:264]
  10. ^ Nakasone[1988:255]
  11. ^ Miyakojima Water Committee [1967:31]
  12. ^ Nakanishi[2002:19]
  13. ^ Miyakojima Water Committee[1967:33]12,15
  14. ^ Miyakojima Water Committee[1967:37]16
  15. ^ Miyakojima Water Organization[1996:242]
  16. ^ Miyakojima Water Organization[1996:248]
  17. ^ Miyakojima Water Organization[1996:103]
  18. ^ Miyakojima Water Organization[1996:103]
  19. ^ Miyakojima Water Organization[1996:219]
  20. ^ Shimoji[2001:72]
  21. ^ Shimoji[2001:72]
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