waterworks 復習

　W杯の試合に合わせて人々が動いている様子がよくわかる現象です。

Dramatic fluctuations seen in water use during Japan’s World Cup game

Tap water consumption in Tokyo’s 23 wards fluctuated dramatically when Japan’s World Cup match against Colombia was held in Russia on Tuesday night.

A sharp increase was seen during halftime and again after the match, an indication of the close attention paid to Japan’s opening game in the tournament’s group stage.

According to data on tap water use released by the Tokyo metropolitan government, the amount sharply decreased immediately after the start of the match. But it increased by 24 percent in the seven minutes from 9:47 p.m., when the first half ended, greatly exceeding the average consumption for that time of day. This was the peak of consumption during the match.

中略

As a similar phenomenon takes place during other international sporting events, including the Olympics, the Tokyo metropolitan government’s waterworks bureau said it takes such measures as adjusting water pressure to avoid a situation in which water does not flow smoothly from taps due to the fluctuations.

以下省略

http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0004534225

　waterworks /wɔ́tɚwɝ̀ks/ を取り上げます。水道局のことをさしていると思いました。『ライトハウス英和辞典』（第5版　研究社）で調べると「上水道、給水設備；給水所、浄水所；水道会社」とありました。

　LDOCEには “the system of pipes and water supplies in a town or city” や “a building in which water is cleaned and then pumped to houses, buildings etc” などと定義されています。

　水の供給が間に合うように使用量を予測し、確保するための調整を行うという職人技が光っているなと感じました。（aqua）