Tokyo to Waive Water Bills This Summer to Protect Residents Amid Soaring Heat

In response to escalating summer temperatures and a spike in heat-related deaths, Tokyo will waive basic water utility fees for all households during a four-month period this summer, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has announced.

A total of ¥36 billion (approximately $250 million or £186 million) has been allocated to fund this measure, aimed at encouraging residents to use air conditioning and other cooling methods without the burden of additional household costs.

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike explained the initiative was designed to reduce the risk of heatstroke, especially among vulnerable populations. “We are worried that people might refrain from using their air conditioners because they are concerned about living expenses,” Koike told Asahi Shimbun. “We would like to create an environment in which all Tokyoites can live in peace even in the extremely hot weather we are expected to experience this summer.”

The urgency of the initiative comes after last summer's record-breaking heat in Tokyo, where 263 people lost their lives to heatstroke, according to the Bureau of Public Health. Many victims reportedly lacked air conditioning or avoided using it due to high utility costs.

According to the Japan Times, the Tokyo Fire Department reported that in over 60% of indoor heatstroke fatalities last summer, the victims had not turned on their air conditioning.

While the subsidy will eliminate base water charges — which typically range from ¥860 ($6; £4.50) to ¥1,460 ($10; £7.50) per month depending on the household’s water pipe width — residents will still need to pay additional fees based on their actual water usage.

Tokyo, home to over 14 million people and more than 7 million households, experienced Japan’s hottest summer on record in 2023. Data from the Japan Meteorological Agency showed that temperatures from June to August were 1.76°C above the 30-year average.

During the same June–September period, nearly 8,000 people in Tokyo were hospitalized for heatstroke, another all-time high. Most of those affected were elderly individuals, further emphasizing the need for targeted public health interventions.

With climate change intensifying summer heatwaves, Tokyo's latest measure seeks to ease financial burdens and potentially save lives by making it more feasible for residents to keep cool.

Source: BBC