This summer, residents of Tokyo, Japan, will have their basic water utility fees waived as part of an initiative to mitigate the effects of extreme heat. A budget of approximately ¥36 billion ($250 million; £186 million) has been allocated for these subsidies, which will be implemented over a four-month duration. The Bureau of Public Health reported that heatstroke resulted in a record 263 fatalities in Tokyo last summer, with many victims lacking air conditioning or opting not to use it due to financial concerns. Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike expressed her apprehension that residents might avoid using air conditioning because of worries about living expenses, stating, ‘We considered what we could do to help pay their bills.’ She emphasized the desire to foster an environment where all Tokyo residents can live comfortably, even during the anticipated extreme heat this summer. By alleviating water costs, the government hopes to motivate residents to utilize cooling methods such as air conditioning. The Tokyo Fire Department noted that over 60% of heatstroke fatalities recorded indoors last summer involved individuals who did not activate their air conditioning. Typically, the basic water fees in Tokyo range from ¥860 ($6; £4.50) to ¥1,460 ($10; £7.50) per month, depending on the size of the household’s water pipe.
Supplementary charges, determined by water consumption and additional to the standard fees, will be applied at the customary rate. Tokyo is home to over 7 million households and has a population exceeding 14 million, as per government data. Last year, Japan experienced its hottest summer on record. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, temperatures during June, July, and August were 1.76 degrees higher than the average recorded from 1991 to 2020. From June to September, nearly 8,000 individuals in Tokyo were hospitalized due to heatstroke, marking another record, with the majority of fatalities occurring among the elderly.
