The rainwater tanks in Sumida Ward serve not only as a source of fire-fighting water in an emergency but also of water required on a daily basis for shrubbery and potted plants.
Rainwater is the one type of water which a city can secure by itself.
Carefully saving and using rainwater can have the farreaching effect of conserving the rivers and lakes which are our valuable water source. Residents of the densely built-up areas of Tokyo, which have been prone to fire since the Edo period, have always collected rainwater as a valuable supplement to well water for daily use and for fighting fires. Sumida, one of the 23 wards of Tokyo, has recognized the importance of this cultural tradition and has installed underground water tanks along its narrow streets. The tanks, which are designed to collect rainwater, are equipped with hand pumps so that anyone can use the water to fight a fire.