Anonymous donor gives Japanese city £2.7m in gold bars to repair water system
Japanese city receives unusual £2.7m gift to repair failing water system
- An anonymous donor has given 21kg of gold bars, valued at £2.7m, to Osaka's Municipal Waterworks Bureau in Japan.
- The donation, made last November, followed an earlier cash contribution from the same individual, who was motivated by news reports on the country's broken water pipes.
- The funds are intended to help maintain Osaka's ageing water and sewage systems, a significant concern affecting many cities across Japan.
- Osaka, the third-largest city, recorded around 90 water pipe leaks in the 2024 fiscal year, with replacement work stalled due to budget overruns.
- The gold bars are estimated to cover the cost of replacing approximately 2km of typical water pipe, addressing a national issue where over 20% of pipes have exceeded their 40-year service life.
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