Tenchijin Inc. Releases Case Study of "Uchu Suido Kyoku" Waterworks DX Solution Implementation at Miyakonojo City Waterworks and Sewerage Bureau
JAXA-certified space venture Tenchijin Inc. announced the release of a case study on the implementation of its satellite data-utilizing waterworks DX solution "Uchu Suido Kyoku" at the Miyakonojo City Waterworks and Sewerage Bureau in Miyazaki Prefecture. After two years of implementation, the solution, which addresses 550 annual water leaks across 1,900km of pipelines, has been highly praised by the local staff, who expressed a desire to "use it for at least 5 years," significantly streamlining leak detection and aiding future pipeline renewal plans.
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- 📰 Published: April 30, 2026 at 23:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 30, 2026 at 14:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 30, 2026 at 15:26 (55 min after Collected)
JAXA-certified space venture Tenchijin Inc. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Yasuhito Sakuraba) announced the release of a case study on the implementation of "Uchu Suido Kyoku" (Space Water Bureau), a waterworks DX solution that utilizes satellite data to support the realization of sustainable water utilities, at the Miyakonojo City Waterworks and Sewerage Bureau in Miyazaki Prefecture. This case study is the second, following the one released by the Saga City Waterworks and Sewerage Bureau in October 2025.
Miyakonojo City has a total pipeline length of approximately 1,900 km, with 550 water leaks occurring in fiscal year 2024. The company is publishing an interview article with Yuta Yamazaki, Assistant Manager of Water Distribution, Waterworks Division, Miyakonojo City Waterworks and Sewerage Bureau, detailing how the site, which maintains an extensive pipeline network with limited personnel, came to evaluate the solution as "we want to use it for at least 5 years" in its second year of introduction.
Since its service launch in April 2023, "Uchu Suido Kyoku" has surpassed a cumulative total of 60 contracted municipalities. It has been listed as a practical stage technology (P187-188) in the "Water and Sewerage DX Technology Catalog" (revised edition) published by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism on March 27, 2026.
## Walking 1,900 km without clues. A site dealing with 550 annual water leaks.
Miyakonojo City in Miyazaki Prefecture is known as a leading city in Southern Kyushu. Its water utility serves approximately 156,800 people and 75,700 households, with a total pipeline length of about 1,900 km. This length is comparable to the straight-line distance from Sapporo in Hokkaido to Amami Oshima in Kagoshima Prefecture.
In fiscal year 2024, 550 water leaks occurred, 160 of which, or about 30%, were accidents in distribution pipes. Acoustic leak detection surveys by limited personnel are capped at around 1,000 km annually, posing a challenge where "it's not possible to survey the same location multiple times in one year; once surveyed, the next survey won't be until the following year or later," says Yuta Yamazaki, Assistant Manager of Water Distribution, Waterworks Division, Miyakonojo City Waterworks and Sewerage Bureau. Yamazaki describes the essence of leak detection as "a treasure hunt. You walk around a vast area without clues, searching for leaks."
After comparing and considering multiple providers, the Miyakonojo City Waterworks and Sewerage Bureau decided to introduce "Uchu Suido Kyoku," evaluating its ability not only to narrow down survey areas based on leak risk diagnosis but also to utilize the results for future pipeline renewal plans. Within the organization, technical information was first shared within the responsible section, and understanding was gradually expanded. Yamazaki recalls, "Many superiors were interested in the word 'space,' so the hurdle was lower than expected."
## From "cover the whole town" to "cover a 100-meter square." Morning instructions have changed.
Now in its second year of implementation, Yamazaki, who recalls "initially intending it for a single year," rates "Uchu Suido Kyoku" 7.5 out of 10. He now states, "we want to use it for at least 5 years."
A symbolic change is in the morning instructions for leak detection surveys. "Previously, based on flow results, the instruction was 'cover the whole town,' but now it has changed to specific instructions like 'cover this 100-meter square'." With a color-coded risk map, field staff can grasp the situation, and there have been changes in surveyors' motivation. "It went from a clue-less treasure hunt to a treasure hunt with hints like, 'it might be around here'."
The results are also evident in the numbers. Priority surveys began for 474 locations identified as having a high leak risk, and two rounds were completed in one and a half years. The increased frequency of surveys has improved the likelihood of discovering leaks. Furthermore, layers such as pipeline maps colored by specific pipe types and geological maps are being sequentially added to Uchu Suido Kyoku at the request of Miyakonojo City.
Yamazaki, who has an unusual background as a former police officer, speaks about the ideal state of water utilities: "Leaks are like traffic violations; it's better if they don't happen. The ideal is to reduce them to zero, rather than evaluating the number found." Going forward, the bureau plans to reflect the results of risk diagnosis in pipeline renewal plans, advancing the shift from "finding leaks" to "preventing them."
For more details on Miyakonojo City Waterworks and Sewerage Bureau's initiatives, the background of its introduction, specific changes in operations, and the future of water utilities, please visit the case study page on the special website.
Case Study Page
https://suido.tenchijin.co.jp/case-study/article03/
## About "Uchu Suido Kyoku"
"Uchu Suido Kyoku" is a waterworks DX solution that utilizes satellite data to support the realization of sustainable water utilities. Since its service launch in April 2023, the cumulative number of contracted municipalities* has exceeded 60.
*As of April 2026. Includes contract renewals.
Miyakonojo City has a total pipeline length of approximately 1,900 km, with 550 water leaks occurring in fiscal year 2024. The company is publishing an interview article with Yuta Yamazaki, Assistant Manager of Water Distribution, Waterworks Division, Miyakonojo City Waterworks and Sewerage Bureau, detailing how the site, which maintains an extensive pipeline network with limited personnel, came to evaluate the solution as "we want to use it for at least 5 years" in its second year of introduction.
Since its service launch in April 2023, "Uchu Suido Kyoku" has surpassed a cumulative total of 60 contracted municipalities. It has been listed as a practical stage technology (P187-188) in the "Water and Sewerage DX Technology Catalog" (revised edition) published by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism on March 27, 2026.
## Walking 1,900 km without clues. A site dealing with 550 annual water leaks.
Miyakonojo City in Miyazaki Prefecture is known as a leading city in Southern Kyushu. Its water utility serves approximately 156,800 people and 75,700 households, with a total pipeline length of about 1,900 km. This length is comparable to the straight-line distance from Sapporo in Hokkaido to Amami Oshima in Kagoshima Prefecture.
In fiscal year 2024, 550 water leaks occurred, 160 of which, or about 30%, were accidents in distribution pipes. Acoustic leak detection surveys by limited personnel are capped at around 1,000 km annually, posing a challenge where "it's not possible to survey the same location multiple times in one year; once surveyed, the next survey won't be until the following year or later," says Yuta Yamazaki, Assistant Manager of Water Distribution, Waterworks Division, Miyakonojo City Waterworks and Sewerage Bureau. Yamazaki describes the essence of leak detection as "a treasure hunt. You walk around a vast area without clues, searching for leaks."
After comparing and considering multiple providers, the Miyakonojo City Waterworks and Sewerage Bureau decided to introduce "Uchu Suido Kyoku," evaluating its ability not only to narrow down survey areas based on leak risk diagnosis but also to utilize the results for future pipeline renewal plans. Within the organization, technical information was first shared within the responsible section, and understanding was gradually expanded. Yamazaki recalls, "Many superiors were interested in the word 'space,' so the hurdle was lower than expected."
## From "cover the whole town" to "cover a 100-meter square." Morning instructions have changed.
Now in its second year of implementation, Yamazaki, who recalls "initially intending it for a single year," rates "Uchu Suido Kyoku" 7.5 out of 10. He now states, "we want to use it for at least 5 years."
A symbolic change is in the morning instructions for leak detection surveys. "Previously, based on flow results, the instruction was 'cover the whole town,' but now it has changed to specific instructions like 'cover this 100-meter square'." With a color-coded risk map, field staff can grasp the situation, and there have been changes in surveyors' motivation. "It went from a clue-less treasure hunt to a treasure hunt with hints like, 'it might be around here'."
The results are also evident in the numbers. Priority surveys began for 474 locations identified as having a high leak risk, and two rounds were completed in one and a half years. The increased frequency of surveys has improved the likelihood of discovering leaks. Furthermore, layers such as pipeline maps colored by specific pipe types and geological maps are being sequentially added to Uchu Suido Kyoku at the request of Miyakonojo City.
Yamazaki, who has an unusual background as a former police officer, speaks about the ideal state of water utilities: "Leaks are like traffic violations; it's better if they don't happen. The ideal is to reduce them to zero, rather than evaluating the number found." Going forward, the bureau plans to reflect the results of risk diagnosis in pipeline renewal plans, advancing the shift from "finding leaks" to "preventing them."
For more details on Miyakonojo City Waterworks and Sewerage Bureau's initiatives, the background of its introduction, specific changes in operations, and the future of water utilities, please visit the case study page on the special website.
Case Study Page
https://suido.tenchijin.co.jp/case-study/article03/
## About "Uchu Suido Kyoku"
"Uchu Suido Kyoku" is a waterworks DX solution that utilizes satellite data to support the realization of sustainable water utilities. Since its service launch in April 2023, the cumulative number of contracted municipalities* has exceeded 60.
*As of April 2026. Includes contract renewals.