As Rainy Season Approaches, Flash Flood Disasters Strike Unannounced. IoT Reservoir Remote Monitoring Active in Approx. 400 Locations Nationwide.

In 2026, Typhoon No. 6 formed in early June. This is about a month earlier than usual, and with the rainy season approaching, a "record-breaking typhoon season" has already begun. About 70% of the approximately 150,000 agricultural reservoirs across Japan are aging facilities built before the Edo period. Even if water levels rise rapidly during heavy rain, there are many cases where on-site verification is impossible at night or during bad weather, raising concerns about the risk of major damage expansion.

Braveridge Co., Ltd. announces that its water level remote monitoring solution, the "Reservoir Management System," is currently installed in approximately 400 reservoirs across 80 municipalities in 21 prefectures nationwide.

■ Social Issues Surrounding Reservoir Management
There are about 150,000 agricultural reservoirs nationwide. Most are aging facilities built before the Edo period, and management has long been left to local farmers and land improvement districts.
However, this system is now reaching its limit. With the aging of managers and a shortage of successors, the situation—especially in hilly and mountainous areas—where they must head out for on-site verification during every heavy rain, night, or bad weather, remains unresolved. The reality is that three risks overlap: aging facilities, unmanageable administrative structures, and increasingly severe torrential rains.

■ The Western Japan Torrential Rain Disaster
The Western Japan Torrential Rain in July 2018 caused immense damage to reservoirs in various regions. In Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture, there were 7 breaches and 58 damaged reservoirs. In Ekiya-cho, a debris flow caused by a reservoir breach hit residential areas, resulting in the loss of young lives.

■ Installation at 53 Locations in Fukuyama City
There are about 2,200 reservoirs in Fukuyama City, and it is unrealistic for human eyes to monitor them all. Fukuyama City has introduced the "Reservoir Management System" at 53 locations, focusing on priority disaster prevention reservoirs. It is a mechanism where IoT water level sensors and cameras collaborate, and notifications are sent to the administrator's smartphone or PC the moment the water level exceeds the set limit.

A System That Functions When Humans Cannot Visit
Whether at night or in bad weather, one can grasp the situation without going to the site and proceed to swift evacuation orders or water gate operation decisions. This remote monitoring solution was chosen by local governments that had experienced damage.

■ Spreading to Approx. 400 Locations Nationwide
Starting with the introduction in Fukuyama City, Braveridge's "Reservoir Management System" has spread nationwide. Key installation achievements are as follows.

● Key Municipal Installation Numbers
Approx. 400 locations across 80 municipalities in 21 prefectures (as of May 2026)
Oita Prefecture: 100 locations
Tottori Prefecture: 83 locations
Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture: 53 locations
Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture: 31 locations
Hiroshima Prefecture (excluding Fukuyama City), Yamagata Prefecture, Saitama Prefecture, etc.: Installed and expanding.

■ Mechanism and Features of the "Reservoir Management System"
This system consists of: (1) water level sensors, (2) cameras, and (3) a solar panel-integrated router. Sensors and cameras are connected wirelessly via Bluetooth® LE (Core 5.0 Long Range). The router transmits data to the cloud, reaching the administrator via a web application or notification. There are also standalone types of sensors and cameras that do not require a router.

(1) Easy Installation
Because it is wireless and battery-powered (about 5 years without replacement), it can be installed even in places without power, and no large-scale installation work is required. The simple configuration—operating just by placing the solar-integrated router in a sunny spot—enables simultaneous installation in multiple locations. The standalone type is optimal for environments and uses where only one unit is needed.

(2) Immediate Notification
Automatic email/LINE notifications are sent when the set water level is exceeded. It also supports remote camera shooting, allowing users to grasp the situation without going to the site.

(3) Low Cost
Significant reduction in installation and operation costs through in-house design, development, and manufacturing in Japan. Simultaneous installation in multiple locations is realized at a realistic price. This is one of the reasons it is widely adopted by local governments with strict budget constraints.

■ Beyond Agriculture to Private Urban Facilities (BCP Measures)
In recent years, flooding and inundation damage have occurred one after another in private facilities, including in urban areas. From the perspective of business continuity (BCP) and asset protection, the demand for water level monitoring in factories, warehouses, commercial facilities, and condominiums is rising rapidly, and inquiries are increasing for our company. Leveraging the operational know-how from approximately 400 locations accumulated under the harsh natural environments of agricultural reservoirs, we will broadly expand our solutions to safety measures and BCP responses for private enterprises.