Kyoto City Subsidizing Residential Rainwater Tanks

In an effort to promote the effective use of rainwater, Kyoto City in Japan is currently providing financial assistance to those who set up residential rainwater storage tanks. The City began accepting applications for the fiscal 2009 subsidy program on April 1, 2009.

Affected by reductions in green spaces, many cities in Japan have recently suffered from "urban flooding", or large amounts of rainwater gushing into streets. To help reduce such overflow and to encourage more effective water use, Kyoto City began a subsidy program for rainwater tanks in fiscal 2005. These tanks store rainwater collected through gutters on rooftops, and this water can be used for watering flowers and trees, or for sprinkling on the road to ease the summer heat.

The subsidy program is for those who plan to install rainwater tanks at homes or offices located in the service area of the City's Waterworks Bureau sewage works. The program covers half of the costs for purchasing rainwater tanks with capacities ranging from 100 to 500 liters, up to a maximum grant of 25,000 yen (U.S.$255). Before subsidizing, Kyoto City judges the adequacy of application in the prior consultation.

The number of subsidies granted has been increasing every year, with 58 cases in 2006, 72 in 2007 and 95 in 2008. The city plans to approve the first 100 applicants for fiscal 2009. The number of application is already close to 100, as of July 31, 2009.

[Newsletter] PROMOTING RAINWATER UTILIZATION No.6 (February 2003)
http://www.japanfs.org/en/mailmagazine/newsletter/
pages/027756.html
Subsidy Supports Use of Rainwater Tanks in Kobe (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/en/pages/025767.html
Kyoto City Waterworks Bureau official website
http://www.city.kyoto.jp/suido/engtop.htm

Posted: 2009/08/19 06:00:15 AM

TAG Food/Water , Local government , NGO/Citizen