You find a 断水のお知らせ in your apartment mailbox. When will the water stop, and what should you do? First find the affected date, time and units. Fill the water you need before that period, then check the notice again for instructions on using the taps after service returns.
Words to find on the notice
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 断水のお知らせ | だんすいのおしらせ (dansui no oshirase) | Notice of water shutoff |
| 断水日時 | だんすいにちじ (dansui nichiji) | Date and hours without water |
| 対象区域・対象住戸 | たいしょうくいき・たいしょうじゅうこ (taishō kuiki / taishō jūko) | Affected area or apartments |
| 受水槽清掃 | じゅすいそうせいそう (jusuisō seisō) | Storage tank cleaning |
| 給水設備点検 | きゅうすいせつびてんけん (kyūsui setsubi tenken) | Water supply equipment inspection |
| 濁り水 | にごりみず (nigori mizu) | Cloudy or discolored water |
| 復旧・通水 | ふっきゅう・つうすい (fukkyū / tsūsui) | Restoration / water flowing again |
| 問い合わせ先 | といあわせさき (toiawasesaki) | Contact for questions |
Read the date and scope before changing your plans
Look for 断水日時 and check both the start and end times. A notice may say 予定 (planned): the end time is an estimate, not a promise that every tap will work at that minute. Check 対象区域 or 対象住戸 to see whether your building, floor or room is included. The contact and instructions printed on your particular notice take priority.
Also look at who issued it. A building manager may stop water for tank cleaning or equipment work; a water bureau may issue a notice for work on public pipes. Yokohama’s water bureau says it distributes advance notices to affected homes for work that may cause a shutoff, reduced pressure or discolored water. Buildings use different supply systems, so a neighborhood notice and a building notice can affect residents differently. See the Yokohama Waterworks Bureau’s construction guidance and the Tokyo Waterworks Bureau’s explanation of building supply systems.
Before the water stops
- Set aside drinking and cooking water, plus water for immediate household needs, according to the duration and your household. Yokohama’s bureau specifically asks residents to draw water ahead of planned works.
- Finish water-dependent chores such as laundry and bathing before the start time. Check the notice for any instructions about toilets, water heaters and other appliances; their behavior depends on the building and equipment.
- Keep the notice or photograph its date, affected area and contact details. If you need water for a health-related device or another essential purpose, ask the issuer early about the arrangements for your building.
When service returns
Follow the notice’s restart instructions. If the water is discolored, use a cold-water tap and let it run until clear before using water-connected appliances. Yokohama’s water bureau gives that advice after meter replacement, and Tokyo’s bureau also advises running a tap until discoloration clears after pipe work. If it does not clear, or the water has an unusual smell, contact the issuer or building manager rather than assuming it is safe to use. Yokohama’s meter replacement guidance and Tokyo’s no-water troubleshooting guide explain these distinctions.
If your tap still has no water after the announced period, check for a revised notice and ask neighbors whether they are affected. In a building with a storage tank or pump, Tokyo Waterworks recommends contacting the manager about equipment or water-quality problems. For a wider outage, check your local water bureau’s outage information and contact details. Do not operate shared valves or equipment yourself.
Short Japanese phrases to use
- この部屋も断水の対象ですか。 Kono heya mo dansui no taishō desu ka. — Is this apartment also affected?
- 水は何時ごろ使えるようになりますか。 Mizu wa nanji goro tsukaeru yō ni narimasu ka. — Around what time can we use the water again?
- 復旧後、濁り水が出ています。 Fukkyū-go, nigori mizu ga dete imasu. — The water is discolored after service returned.
- 問い合わせ先を教えてください。 Toiawasesaki o oshiete kudasai. — Please tell me whom to contact.
For other apartment notices, see our guide to an apartment fire equipment inspection notice. If the problem looks like a leak or a fault in your unit, see how to report an apartment repair. Our Living in Japan guide connects other building notices with everyday tasks.
