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Research & Technology
Understanding invisible groundwater flows
The natural mineral water used for Suntory Tennensui as well as to brew The Premium Malt’s and our other beer products is withdrawn from ground water sources in natural environments across Japan. It is never processed and contains zero artificially-added minerals for a delicious, purely natural taste.
Groundwater have been slowly percolating through geological layers for vast amounts of time. If we want to conserve these precious water sources, it is essential that we know how it is flowing and where—from the moment it soaks into the ground as rainfall or snowfall to the moment it reaches our bottling plants. But because groundwater run deep in the earth, we can’t see the way they flow directly, as we can with rivers. The Institute for Water Science is using computer simulation models to help track these hidden groundwater system. Our researchers are carefully collecting data on climate, topography, and geography—as we as on springs, rivers, and other water sources—and then numerically processing it in order to estimate the groundwater flows.
These precision simulations require highly accurate data on-site. Springs are particularly important for identifying the groundwater flow system, as they are where the groundwater comes up through the surface. We have traversed every inch of the water source areas that recharge the Minami Alps Hakushu Water Plant and discovered nearly a hundred springs so far. Mapping these locations and matching them to the computer-predicted spring locations has allowed us to conduct a detailed validation process. Because water is constantly changing form in the natural environment, we will continue with our steady on-site investigations and observations.
Once we know where groundwater is flowing, we can estimate where and in what quantities it will be recharged. Comprehensive analysis of these factors will in turn help us in a variety of initiatives aimed at sustainable water use—among them 100-year forest and soil conservation activities like the Suntory Natural Water Sanctuaries project.
* The department name, title, and photo are as of the time of the production (interview).
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* The department name, title, and photo are as of the time of the production (interview).