Kirk here. NHK World published a little news video with the following headline: “Japan to subsidize chip plants’ water suppliers.”
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230710_17/
So, it would seem that the government wants to facilitate and accelerate the use of Kumamoto’s groundwater. Even now, however, Kumamoto City’s webpage features calls to conserve water:
https://www.city.kumamoto.jp/kankyo/hpkiji/pub/Detail.aspx?c_id=5&id=20529
I’ve added some English to images on that page and shared them here. The images show the mechanism by which water seeps into the ground to replenish the groundwater supply, how the reduction in traditional agriculture and the increase in pavement etc is interfering with that process, and how groundwater levels are declining.
As you may know, Kumamoto City’s rich supply of clean groundwater is something that distinguishes it from other communities of comparable size in Japan. The governor and others are promising to be careful and to make sure that the resource is used wisely and not depleted. I, however, remain concerned.