Aspects of Exhaustion and Declination of Thermal Spring Resources in Obihiro Urban District, Hokkaido, Japan

Abstract

Since 1976 the development of thermal springs has been increasing in the Obihiro urban district. Especially since 1980, the digging of orifices of thermal waters has been carried out at a accelerated pace. As a result, by the end of 1987, the orifices of thermal water already dug out numbered 27, of which 22 orifices are currently in use. In addition, there exist 3 orifices now under drilling, 5 orifices waiting for drilling work, and 3 orifices for which the applications for drilling are pending. As of February 1987, within a radius of 3 km of the JR Obihiro station (42"54' 59.4" N. lat., 143"12'23" E. long.), the following orifices of thermal water exist: 18 orifices in use, 4 out of use, 2 under drilling, 4 waiting for drilling work, and 2 for which applications for drilling are pending.