Some 3.4 million people abroad die annually of diseases caused by drinking polluted water. Fortunately, drinking water in Japan is virtually free of pollution and pathogens thanks to the efforts of the 60,000 local government people employed in city water supply services.
June 15 marked the 50th anniversary of the promulgation of the city water law, which established regulations for city water supply services. This autumn, Japan will mark the 120th anniversary of the first modern city water services. On Oct. 17, 1887, Yokohama started supplying city water to some of its citizens. Henry Spencer Palmer (1838-1893), an engineer from Britain, served as technical adviser for Yokohama's city water project.
Only 26.2 percent of the nation's population was receiving city water services in 1950. The rate shot up to 53.4 percent by 1960, 80.7 percent by 1970, 91.5 percent by 1980 and 97.2 percent by 2005.