【WOTA】 "The 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake: WOTA Documentary Record" (Part 2：Teaser)

WOTA Corp. extends its heartfelt sympathies to all those affected by the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake that struck on January 1, 2024, and expresses its deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. On March 11, 2025, WOTA released the documentary “Documentary on the Noto Peninsula Earthquake 2024: WOTA Activity Record.” (Reference: https://wota.co.jp/en/news-250311/) WOTA has released a teaser for the forthcoming second installment of this documentary. This documentary goes beyond a record of emergency water supply activities in the aftermath of the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake. It also examines the structural challenges of water infrastructure that became evident in the process of recovery and reconstruction, and explores new approaches to addressing these challenges. More than two years after the disaster, there are still areas where water supply has not been restored due to damage to water treatment plants, and where residents remain unable to return to their homes. In this context, WOTA, as part of a joint research team with Suzu City, has been selected for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s FY2024 “Advanced Breakthrough Cross-sectoral Water Infrastructure Technology Demonstration Project (AB-Cross)” for its proposed “Regional Demonstration Project for the deployment of a Small-Scale Decentralized Water Circulation System for Residential Use,” which is being implemented in the affected area. This initiative aims to enable each household to secure its own domestic water supply by using WOTA’s residential water circulation system, “WOTA Unit.” Approximately two years after the disaster, installation of the system has been completed in the homes of affected residents participating in the project, and life supported by this new model is beginning to take shape. The full documentary focuses on the future of water infrastructure beyond disaster response, presenting small-scale decentralized water circulation systems as a new option to address challenges faced by municipalities across Japan, including population decline and aging pipeline infrastructure. Ahead of the full release, the teaser documents the process of installing the “WOTA Unit” in residential homes in Suzu City and the process through which water access was restored for the first time in approximately two years. It illustrates not only the deployment of the system, but also how the foundations of daily life infrastructure is rebuilt through water circulation, providing a concrete view of its real-world implementation. Through this initiative, the role of small-scale decentralized water circulation systems is clarified—as a viable option for sustainable community development for municipalities, and as a foundational infrastructure that enables residents to continue living in their communities.