Investigation into Use of Urban Park Water Supply Facilities During Large-Scale Power Outages After Hokkaido Eastern Iburi Earthquake

Abstract

This study verifies previous situation reports stating that urban park facilities, such as drinking fountains and toilets, were frequently used to meet the domestic water requirements of Sapporo City citizens during the large-scale blackouts resulting from the Hokkaido Eastern Iburi Earthquake. From the results obtained, the following points were clarified: 1. A total of 45 urban parks whose water usage after the earthquake increased significantly in comparison with the same period of the previous year were examined. 2. Spatial analysis conducted via the Geographic Information System (GIS) confirmed that the locations of urban parks whose water consumption had increased under the large-scale power outage following the earthquake were scattered over a wide area in Sapporo City. 3. Municipal water supplies were interrupted in some areas and drinking fountains and toilets in nearby urban parks were used as water sources for neighboring residents, thus indicating that urban parks have a crucial role to play by supplying water to area residents in the aftermath of a disaster.