AWWA ACE95119

The magnitude 6.8 Great Hanshin (Kobe) Earthquake produced peak ground accelerations of 0.8 times gravity, impacting a large, very densely populated region of western Japan. An estimated 2,000 water pipeline failures occurred in Kobe, draining reservoirs, and limiting water available for fire suppression. Transmission and distribution pipeline and water purification plant damage resulted in 300,000 people still without water, one month following the earthquake. An aggressive earthquake mitigation program had replaced most of the City's cast iron pipe; without that program, failures and restoration time could have been far greater. About 6 percent of Kobe's ductile iron pipe had a special seismic joint that appears to have had little or no damage. An earthquake monitoring and control system isolated 18 reservoirs saving the water for drinking in the days following the event. This paper describes the impact of the Great Hanshin Earthquake on City of Kobe water system. An overview of the earthquake, regional seismology and geology are presented. The operation of the water system is described followed by earthquake effects on the water system. Finally, conclusions and recommendations are drawn.

Product Details

Published:

01/01/1995

ISBN(s):

0898678358

Number of Pages:

24

File Size:

1 file , 1.7 MB