Deep Groundwater in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area, Japan

The Kanto Plain is the biggest and deepest groundwater basin on the Japanese Islands. The water in the basin has been used in various purposes, and the volume of use is estimated to be the greatest in the country. Consequently, severe problems have emerged in the history of water development and water environment protection. The study show two stories in the groundwater basin of the Kanto Plain, corresponding to depth. The deeper one emphasizes salt water containing natural gas, and the shallow one is characterized by the largest groundwater flow system in the country. The paper reviews the geological features of the basin. Groundwater condition, especially deep groundwater, is also reviewed to understand the next stage of activities to develop and protect the environment.