1.
water supply; clean water; tap water
Clean, treated water supplied through a public water system for drinking and domestic use. Contrasted with 下水 (sewage/wastewater).
上水の水質を検査する。
To inspect the quality of the water supply.
上水と下水のインフラ整備が必要だ。
Infrastructure development for both water supply and sewage is needed.
この地域では上水道の老朽化が進んでおり、水漏れが頻繁に起きている。
In this area, the water supply system is aging, and leaks occur frequently.
Refers to clean, treated water for human consumption, as opposed to 下水 (sewage/wastewater). Composed of 上 (upper/above) + 水 (water). The character 上 indicates clean/good water, while 下 in 下水 indicates waste.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 上水道: water supply system/waterworks
- 上水の水質: water supply quality
- 上水処理: water treatment
RELATED TERMS:
- 下水: sewage, wastewater — the counterpart to 上水
- 下水道: sewage system
- 水道: water supply, plumbing — the general term for tap water infrastructure
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 水道水: tap water — the everyday word for water from the tap
- 飲料水: drinking water — water safe for drinking
HISTORICAL NOTE:
The term 上水 has historical roots in Edo-period water supply systems, such as the famous 玉川上水 (Tamagawa Aqueduct) built in 1653 to supply water to Edo (Tokyo).