Water In Countries Research Articles

Rainwater and Greywater as Alternative Water Resources: Public Perception and Acceptability. Case Study in Twelve Countries in the World

The aim of the paper was to identify factors that influence the public perception of the possibility of replacing tap water with rainwater or greywater. In order to check whether a geographical location and water resources of a region affect the public's attitude toward alternative water systems, the surveys were carried out among respondents from twelve countries. The surveys identified the level of awareness among respondents about their country's water resources, ways to save water at home, and their attitudes to rainwater and greywater as additional sources of water in a building. The results showed that only 39% of respondents would not be afraid to use treated greywater in their household. The situation was better in case of replacement of tap water with rainwater, where more than 54% of the respondents were not concerned. The use of alternative sources of water for body washing and cleaning works was the biggest concern among the respondents. In case of greywater recycling, this was indicated by 56% (personal hygiene) and 34% (cleaning works) of respondents. People in the countries with low water resources view alternative water sources more favourably. They are also more aware of, and more likely to accept the use of rainwater or greywater even in uses where they will come into contact with the human body. The research also showed that for more than 3/4 of respondents, funding to install these systems would encourage their use in their household.

Economics of Rice Irrigation Technologies in Kilombero Sub-Basin: A Case of Farming Households from Kilombero in Morogoro, Tanzania

The System of Rice Intensification (SRI) is strongly emphasized by the Ministry of Agriculture in Tanzania to replace traditional flooding. SRI technologies have been scientifically proven to be more efficient in water use than traditional flooding (TFIT). SRI irrigation is therefore a good solution to approach climate change impacts that leads to water stresses, particularly in the country's water basins where rice farming is largely taking place. However, the economics of these irrigation technologies has not been satisfactorily evaluated especially at the farming household level. The information on the economics of the two technologies is important in understanding why some farmers are still using TFIT. Kilombero sub-basin presents a compelling case for this study as 90% of irrigable land in the sub-basin is under TFIT. The study used Net-Revenue (NR) to evaluate profitability, and multiple linear regressions to evaluate factors influencing the profitability of the two irrigation technologies at household level. Results from the study show that an average of TZS 816,425 accrued by SRI irrigators, which is relatively higher than TZS 336,646 per acre accrued by TFIT irrigators. These benefits are obtained at different variable costs, for instance, SRI had an Average Variable Cost of TZS 471,572, which is relatively higher than TZS 248,939 per acre under TFIT. Also, results show that household head years in irrigation, years spent in education, access to extension services, application of fertilizers, and size of land allocated to rice production, are significant predictors of the profit of both technologies. For example, each incremental unit of fertilizer applied would cause an NR increase of TZS 534, 181 (in SRI plots), and TZS 5145 (in TFIT plots). The study thus recommends that subsidization of inorganic fertilizers could be adopted in an effort to increase rice productivity and profit accrued by farming households.

A QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF TURKEY'S WATER RESOURCES POTENTIAL

One of the most basic human needs is water and the other is food. Water is also needed to create all the nutrients required for nutrition. Therefore, water is the basic element of life. While the presence of underground mines and oil is an indicator of the wealth of a country, the existence of water resources is now considered in this group, since the value of water is understood today. 
 A hundred years ago, the existing water availability in a country was a direct indicator of the water wealth of that country. However, as a result of the increase in industrialization and the rapid pollution of water resources, it has become a necessity to evaluate water not only in terms of quantity but also in terms of quality. Because the unit water value of a source is related to how much different purposes that source can be used for. The more a water resource can be used for many purposes, the more valuable it is. Sometimes one unit of very clean water is more valuable than a hundred units of dirty water. For this reason, the presence of a country's water resources should be evaluated not only in terms of quantity but also in terms of quality.
 In this study, the total surface waters as rivers and lakes and underground waters of Turkey were examined in terms of quantity and quality on a basin basis, and comments were made about the basin water potentials.
 Although the amount of water in 25 water basins in Turkey does not show a significant change over time, a serious pollution draws attention in terms of quality, especially in the last 50 years. The change in the amount of water in the basin mostly manifests itself in the form of a decrease in the water amount of river, lake and groundwater. This process is a situation that arises with the effect of global warming and climate change, which is a global problem that concerns the whole world. However, pollution in water resources and making the water resource unusable are all related to the fact that the regulations on the protection of water are not adequately implemented and people do not act consciously. In other words, although quantitative reduction is a global problem, the quality problem is related to the polluting factors in the region of that resource.
 In the country with a very high population growth rate, the decrease in the per capita water potential and the rapid increase in the pollution in the existing resources cause the amount of usable water resources to decrease gradually. In this study, attention was drawn to point and diffuse pollution on the basis of water presence and water source on the basis of basin, and the evaluation of Turkey's water resources in terms of quantity and quality was made.

Water turbidity affects the establishment of Neochetina eichhorniae (Warner) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae): Implications for biological control of water hyacinth

Water hyacinth is the target of nine biological control agents in South Africa including Neochetina eichhorniae (Warner) and Neochetina bruchi (Hustache) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). These two weevils have also been released against water hyacinth in Rwanda, but failed to control the weed invasion, possibly due to high turbidity in the country's water bodies. This study therefore aimed to investigate the effect of water turbidity on the establishment and performance of N. eichhorniae in Rwanda. Turbidity levels were measured over two seasons in four Rwandan rivers and two lakes. The results were then used to benchmark laboratory trials to test the effect of turbidity on the weevils' development. Water hyacinth plants were maintained at four turbidity levels: Clear water (2 Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU): low (85 NTU), medium (600 NTU) and high (1500 NTU). Each treatment plant was inoculated with three N. eichhorniae larvae, while control plants were free of larvae. Plant growth was measured weekly for three months, while adult weevil emergence was recorded from the 56th day of the experiment. The number of adults emerging from the treatment plants grown in the clear water, low, medium and high turbidity levels were 24, 21, 12 and 0, respectively. Larval feeding was greater on plants growing in clear water and the low turbidity, compared to the medium and high turbidity treatments. These results indicate that N. eichhorniae may not establish or perform well in water bodies with high levels of turbidity, which in turn enhances the growth of water hyacinth, allowing compensatory growth for weevil feeding.

Australian country paper: Integrated approaches to irrigation management in the future

AbstractIrrigation in Australia expanded dramatically during the early to mid‐twentieth century under an economic and social development regime of government. This led to overallocation and overuse of many of the country's water resources to the detriment of the rivers and riverine environments. To address this degradation federal and state governments have come together to implement a range of reforms at national, basin and catchment level to return water to the rivers but not at the expense of rural communities and a range of policy reforms to implement water resource best management practice including cost recovery pricing, accuracy in measurement (resource availability and extraction). The three most significant components of these reforms are the Murray–Darling Basin Plan, the National Water Initiative and the Sustainable Rural Water Use and Infrastructure Programme (SRWUIP). These actions are complemented by infrastructure and management improvements at on‐ and off‐farm levels and examples are documented.

The interplay among conflict, water scarcity, and cholera in Northern Nigeria

AbstractCholera is a recurring issue in Nigeria, with outbreaks predominantly affecting the Northern states. In 2021, Nigeria experienced its most significant cholera epidemic in a decade, resulting in thousands of fatalities and cases. The spread of cholera and other waterborne diseases in Nigeria is linked to various factors such as flooding, conflict, and water scarcity. The country's poor drinking water quality and lack of equitable access to clean water exacerbate the problem, particularly in the conflict‐affected areas of the North. This paper discusses the interaction of conflict‐related displacement, water shortages, and cholera transmission in Northern Nigeria and provides insights into how these factors impact water resources and public health. This information can inform initiatives and policies to reduce the impact of conflict on water resources and enhance access to clean water in impacted areas. The article suggests that the primary challenges in eliminating cholera in the region include a lack of information due to severe security situations, bureaucratic requirements for delivering essential supplies, and a chronic shortage of water. A successful response to cholera in conflict and displacement situations also requires community engagement and the security and safety of humanitarian personnel. Long‐term solutions to the uprisings in the region are necessary to put an end to the issues related to banditry and insurgency.

Adoption of rainwater harvesting as a sustainable approach to improving the climate resilience of small landholders in Kenya

AbstractThe African Water Vision 2025 emphasized the disadvantages of the rural population in the context of water supply infrastructure, water management, and access. The vision extolled the virtues of providing improved decentralized governance and localized actions to deliver on this agenda. Furthermore, policies and investment should support climate resilience, by strengthening the security and availability of adequate water quality and quantity in rural communities, for example, by mainstreaming the adoption of rainwater harvesting systems. This is reflected in the government policy alignment towards enabling a devolution of responsibilities to regional and local political structures, while addressing concerns linked with water availability, climate change, and its impact on a country's water resources in Kenya. Despite efforts through different strategic plans and policies, there is a perceived gap between the general understanding of the importance of the RWH system at the national level and actions at the operational level in the counties. An absence of formal policy frameworks and coordination of investments has resulted in insufficient adoption and implementation of RWH systems in Kenya to date. This is despite the fact that in some counties, RWH systems are considered a key solution for increasing climate resilience and suggestions for improvement have been formulated by the affected communities. This analysis shows that RWH systems strengthen the resilience of rural populations but are dependent on a well‐formulated governmental structure, which could be improved by refining national policies and investment in RWH systems.

A dataset of monthly VCI and TCI drought indices at a resolution of 1km in the Yellow River Basin (2003–2021)

The Yellow River Basin is located in the arid, semi-arid climate zone and semi-humid climate zones. According to the statistics of the Second National Comprehensive Water Resources Planning, its annual average water resources total 71.94 billion m3, accounting for 2.5% of the country's total water resources. However, it is the most severely affected by drought among the major river basins in China, and ecological protection faces severe challenges. With the global climate change, the drought problem in the Yellow River Basin has attracted more and more attention. Based on MODIS vegetation index products (MYD13A2, V6) and surface temperature radiation products (MYD11A2, V6). The dataset is obtained by approaches including projection conversion, cloud removal, mosaic clipping, time series interpolation and SG filter smoothing and other preprocessing. Using the calculation method proposed by Kogan in 1995, the VCI and TCI indices were calculated according to the corresponding MODIS products, respectively, and the monthly 1km resolution VCI and TCI drought index datasets in the Yellow River Basin from 2003 to 2021 were generated. Through data sharing, it is expected to provide important data support for drought monitoring and research in the Yellow River Basin under the background of global change.

Groundwater quality for agricultural use in Zacoalco de Torres and Autlan de Navarro, Mexico

In Mexico, one of the main sources for agricultural irrigation is groundwater, which irrigates approximately 2 million hectares, accounting for 75% of the country's rural and urban water volume. These water resources are affected by industrial waste and residual pollutants, as well as the leaching of chemical substances from agricultural soils. In order to evaluate the physical and chemical characteristics of groundwater, this study was conducted in Zacoalco de Torres and Autl á n de Navarro. Sampling was conducted during the dry and rainy seasons in 2017. The sampling locations were deep wells and water wheels. A total of 48 samples were obtained from two sites. In each sample, pH value, anion and cation, electrical conductivity (EC), residual sodium carbonate (CSR), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) and hydrogeochemical classification were analyzed. The underground water of Zacoalco is mostly chlorinated-magnesic and in Autlán it is bicarbonate-magnesic with medium and low concentrations, so it is recommended for irrigation. With respect to salinity, Zacoalco has 40% high salinity water in dry conditions and 66% medium salinity water in rains; Autlan has 75% high salinity water in dry and 75% medium salinity water in rainfall, so its use shows moderate restrictions.

Cholera outbreak in Syria amid humanitarian crisis: the epidemic threat, future health implications, and response strategy - a review.

The war in Syria, which started over 11 years ago, has devastated the country's water sources, healthcare system, and other vital facilities for healthy living. The country is vulnerable to outbreaks, especially epidemic-prone ones like cholera, due to its fragile health system. Syria experienced its last hit of cholera in 2009, which led to the deaths of several Syrian children and affected about 1,000 people. The current cholera resurgence in Syria calls for public concern. Considering the poor access to clean water, the forced relocation of people, and other destruction caused by the war, these factors have exposed Syrian children to infectious diseases like cholera. We argued for more efforts toward the implementation of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in the country. We also pointed out the need for proper education and sensitization campaigns using all available resources to educate the populace, mass chlorination of wells, mapping vulnerable areas, and implementing WASH while encouraging vaccination coverage for cholera as a strategy to reduce its incidence. Improving the national surveillance systems will aid in the timely and appropriate reporting of any outbreak. Again, more negotiations should be done to seek a lasting solution to ending the war and restoring peace and serenity in the country.

An Evaluation on Fish Diet Composition Studies in Türkiye

Determination of the dietary composition and feeding habits of fish is important to explore and compare trophic interactions, food web structure, population, and ecological dynamics within and between aquatic ecosystems and to ensure sustainability. Factors such as global warming in the world and the effects of human activity cause the reduction of fish populations to the deterioration of the ecological balance. That is why we need to fill scientific knowledge gaps to discover and protect biodiversity. In this study, studies that determine the dietary composition of fish species distributed in our country's waters were brought together and the methods used were examined. When we examine these studies; It has been observed that information on the diet compositions of threatened and important commercial fish species is lacking, and existing studies are concentrated in certain areas. It has been determined that the studies carried out in the Black Sea and Aegean Seas are more than in the Mediterranean and Marmara Seas, there are no studies in the Southeastern Anatolia region, and there are few studies in the inland waters of the Mediterranean, Marmara, and Aegean regions.

Harnessing ‘Wasted’ Waters: Conservation, Hydropower and the Origins of Chile's National Electrification Plan

AbstractThis article examines the origins of national electrification in Chile, situating its technocratic promoters within a broad trend – unfolding across Latin America – toward the ‘rational’ management and conservation of natural resources by the state. It surveys the early history of Chilean electrification (1890s–1940s) to show how conservationist thinking flowed through discussions and debates among engineers about the proper uses of the country's waters. These ideas eventually shaped the 1943 national electrification plan, which focused on hydropower. The article sheds new light on the history of Chile's technocracy, the relationship between perceptions of the environment and development planning, and the political and economic debates over national electrification. It also shows how the conservationist dilemma of using versus preserving natural resources operated within a utilitarian and highly technical framework for thinking about nature's bounty. The article thus contributes to recent historical scholarship on conservation and environmental technocrats in Latin America.

Assessing groundwater recharge rates, water quality changes, and agricultural impacts of large-scale water recycling

The over-exploitation and insufficient replenishment of groundwater (GW) have resulted in a pressing need to conserve freshwater and reuse of treated wastewater. To address this issue, the Government of Karnataka launched a large-scale recycling (440 million liters/day) scheme to indirectly recharge GW using secondary treated municipal wastewater (STW) in drought-prone areas of Kolar district in southern India. This recycling employs soil aquifer treatment (SAT) technology, which involves filling surface run-off tanks with STW that intentionally infiltrate and recharge aquifers. This study quantifies the impact of STW recycling on GW recharge rates, levels, and quality in the crystalline aquifers of peninsular India. The study area is characterized by hard rock aquifers with fractured gneiss, granites, schists, and highly fractured weathered rocks. The agricultural impacts of the improved GW table are also quantified by comparing areas receiving STW to those not receiving it, and changes before and after STW recycling were measured. The AMBHAS_1D model was used to estimate the recharge rates and showed a tenfold increase in daily recharge rates, resulting in a significant increase in the GW levels. The results indicate that the surface water in the rejuvenated tanks meets the country's stringent water discharge standards for STW. The GW levels of the studied boreholes increased by 58–73 %, and the GW quality improved significantly, turning hard water into soft water. Land use land cover studies confirmed an increase in the number of water bodies, trees, and cultivated land. The availability of GW significantly improved agricultural productivity (11–42 %), milk productivity (33 %), and fish productivity (341 %). The study's outcomes are expected to serve as a role model for the rest of Indian metro cities and demonstrate the potential of reusing STW to achieve a circular economy and a water-resilient system.

Water shortage and optimal pattern of field cropping cultivation: Addressing economic and environmental concerns in Qazvin Plain, Iran

Iran is currently suffering from a severe water shortage. Frequent droughts, along with over-abstraction of surface and groundwater, have pushed the country's water situation to crisis levels. To deal with this issue, changing the cultivation pattern has been suggested. The planners stated that other environmental objectives would be achieved by implementing changes to the cultivation pattern along with reducing water consumption. Concerning this issue, the present study aimed to identify the optimal water-saving cultivation pattern in the field cropping's subsector in Qazvin province. This province is particularly important in the production of field cropping, which has caused the groundwater level to drop. Therefore, 246 farmers were selected using a simple two-stage random sampling method, and the information was collected in 2019. According to the experts' ideas, a 15% increase in gross profit, a 10% decrease in agricultural water consumption, job stability, and a 15% decrease in chemical fertilizers and pesticides were considered the optimal goals. The findings showed that through the optimal allocation of the inputs to Low Water-Demand (LWD) and High Water-Demand (HWD) crops, the farmers could not only save water and different types of fertilizers and pesticides but also achieve their objectives in terms of their desired profit. Therefore, designing a system of allocation and distribution, establishing a standardization system, and monitoring and controlling farmers' behavior concerning the use of inputs can achieve the goal concerning farmers' income and goals for protecting water resources and the environment.

Analysis of changing trend of water resources and water environment quality in china from 2009 to 2019

Based on the statistical analysis of China Water Resources Bulletin, China environmental situation Bulletin and national environmental statistics yearbook during 2008-2019, we summarized the water resources and water environment quality of seven major basins, and the proportion, main pollutants and change trend of various types of water quality are discussed. Meanwhile, wastewater discharge and pollution discharge are also analyzed. The results show that in the recent years, the overall water environment quality in China is improving, but the overall water environment quality is still not optimistic. Water resources are not only the basis for human survival and development, but also a strategic resource for the development of the national economy. According to the <<World Water Development Report 2018>> issued by the United Nations, the current global water demand is increasing at a rate of 1% per year. This demand will continue to increase, and my country's water resources are even scarcer, and the per capita consumption is only 1/4 of the global average. In the face of this situation, understanding the state and changing trends of my country's water resources and water environment, and putting forward targeted resource conservation and pollution control measures are of great significance to alleviating the problem of my country's water shortage.

Assessment of irrigation water distribution using remotely sensed indicators: A case study of Doho Rice Irrigation Scheme, Uganda

The rising competition for scarce land and water resources and the need to satisfy the global food demand from an ever-growing population necessitates novel methods to monitor irrigation scheme performance for improved water use efficiency. The traditional methods employed in sub-Saharan Africa to assess irrigation performance are point-based, expensive, and time-consuming, making monitoring and evaluation of these capital-intensive projects difficult. This study aimed at employing satellite data with high spatial and temporal resolution in assessing the performance of Doho Rice Irrigation Scheme through estimations of actual evapotranspiration. Actual evapotranspiration (ETa) was modelled from Landsat 7 imagery using the surface energy balance system algorithm on five clear days between January and April 2020. Using equity and adequacy metrics, the derived ETa was used to assess the irrigation performance of the scheme. Results showed that the equity indicator was generally fair, with the coefficient of variation between 0.11 and 0.08, close to the 0.10 threshold implying irrigation water is fairly distributed within the scheme. The average adequacy was 0.87, above the 0.65 threshold, indicating adequate water supply throughout the scheme. The study's findings can be used in future research and benchmarking with other irrigation schemes to address the country's water resource management challenges.

Improving operation of inter-farm channels

The country's water supply depends mainly on the water resources of the Amudarya and Syrdarya. 80,7 % of the country's water resources are formed in the Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan territory. The population of Central Asia is expected to increase by 40 % in the next 20 years. This, in turn, requires more economical use of water and land resources. At present, it is important to modernize irrigation systems, increase their efficiency, automate water distribution processes, and improve the distribution of water to consumers by accurate measurement of internal channels.

Revisiting the Concept of 'Virtual Water' in Light of the Impact of the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on Egypt's Water Interests

Revisiting the Concept of 'Virtual Water' in Light of the Impact of the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on Egypt's Water Interests Marwa Mamdouh-Salem (bio) Introduction Virtual water is one of the few concepts that serious disagreements have not been raised on its definition. Simply, it is the amount of water that is embedded in food or other products needed for its production. It also refers to the hidden flow of water if food or other commodities are traded from one place to another.1 Virtual water allows some countries to support other countries in their water needs. Instead of producing these goods themselves, the importing country can utilize this water for other purposes that else would have been necessary for its production. So, a water scarce country can import products that require a lot of water for their production rather than producing them domestically. By doing so, real water savings can be attained relieving the pressure on the water resources worldwide. Accordingly, several countries – such as Jordan, Israel, and the Gulf States – have consciously formulated policies to enable water saving by [End Page 12] reducing export of water-intensive products, notably crops. It is important to mention that the virtual water content of a product may inform about the environmental impact of consuming this product. By knowing the virtual water content of products, an awareness of the amount of water needed to produce a specific commodity is created. This informs us of the impact that some goods have on the water system. Moreover, the water volume results from the country's import of virtual water should be added to the total water use of the country, thus getting a picture of a nation's real call on the global water resources. Similarly, virtual water export should be subtracted from the volume of the country's water use. The sum of national water use and net virtual water import is known by the 'water footprint' of a country. This 'water footprint' can be a strong tool to show people their impact on the natural resources. The awareness of one's 'individual water footprint' aims to stimulate a more careful use of water. It may also be included in agricultural and industrial production plans and leads to more environment friendly trade policies.2 Ever since Tony Allan introduced an updated version of the concept 'embedded water' in the mid-1990s,3 virtual water trade has been subject to strong academic and scientific debate. This debate produced two main trends: The first trend – which is adopted by the majority – views virtual water as a fact of life exercised by the people since ancient times. The Old Testament tells us about the prophecy of Joseph on how "the seven years of plenty which were in the land of Egypt ended, and the seven years of famine began to come."4 Egyptians stored big quantities of food crops that they cultivated during the time of water abundance to compensate for the food shortage that will happen because of the seven years of drought. This is simply a 'water storing technique' based on the concept of virtual water. In this context, the logic of virtual water is: if the country does not have enough water to cultivate the needed food crops, then it can "import water." This can be done through the importing of crops and other food products from other countries that have water abundance.5 Therefore, this trend endorses the view that since virtual water is a reality, it is necessary to acknowledge [End Page 13] its existence and to start incorporating it – in a scientific way – into the state's national agricultural, economic, and trade strategies. The second trend is an attempt to think outside the virtual water's box as it tends to consider the political, economic, and social factors related to the cultivation of crops. Among the significant works that demonstrate this vision is Jessica Barnes who believes that water is not only limited to agricultural production; rather it should be seen as a more comprehensive process that involves people's lives. Rural environment is characterized by unique social and economic traditions and customs that control the peasants' lifestyle...

Kazakhstan's Green Strategy: Keeping the Steppe Green

The government of the Republic of Kazakhstan aims to become carbon neutral by 2060. However, this goal, among other climate protection initiatives Astana is carrying out, does not occur in a vacuum. Kazakhstan has a history of environmental degradation dating back to the Soviet era; a case in point is the loss of the Aral Sea, which Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan share. This analysis aims to contribute to the literature on climate change and environmental protection in Central Asia. Kazakhstan will be the focus of this analysis due to the various environmental concerns it faces and the environmental protection projects the country is engaged in. The Central Asian state cannot escape or avoid the effects of climate change and global warming. For example, the country faced a dramatic drought in the summer of 2021, which severely affected its cattle and agricultural industries. These types of extreme weather events will continue for the foreseeable future. The Central Asian country is known for its steppe, and keeping Kazakhstan's steppe green and the country's water bodies blue is a long-term, complex project. To address these challenges, a comprehensive domestic green strategy and a "green multivector foreign policy" must be developed.

Increased care-need in older long-term care insurance users after the 2018 Japan Floods: a retrospective cohort study based on the Japanese long-term care insurance claims.

Level of care-need (LOC) is an indicator of elderly person's disability level and is officially used to determine the care services provided in Japan's long-term care insurance (LTCI) system. The 2018 Japan Floods, which struck western Japan in July 2018, were the country's second largest water disaster. This study determined the extent to which the disaster affected the LOC of victims and compared it with that of non-victims. This is a retrospective cohort study, based on the Japanese long-term care insurance claims from two months before (May 2018) to five months after the disaster (December 2018) in Hiroshima, Okayama, and Ehime prefectures, which were the most severely damaged areas in the country. A code indicating victim status, certified by a residential municipality, was used to distinguish between victims and non-victims. Those aged 64 years or younger, those who had the most severe LOC before the disaster, and those whose LOC increased even before the disaster were excluded. The primary endpoint was the augmentation of pre-disaster LOC after the disaster, which was evaluated using the survival time analysis. Age, gender, and type of care service were used as covariates. Of the total 193,723 participants, 1,407 (0.7%) were certified disaster victims. Five months after the disaster, 135 (9.6%) of victims and 14,817 (7.7%) of non-victims experienced the rise of LOC. The victim group was significantly more likely to experience an augmentation of LOC than the non-victim group (adjusted hazard ratio 1.24; 95% confidence interval 1.06-1.45). Older people who were affected by the disaster needed more care than before and the degree of care-need increase was substantially more than non-victims. The result suggests that natural disasters generate more demand for care services among the older people, and incur more resources and cost for society than before.