By Moe Myint Lin Let
DRINKING water serves an important role in daily basic needs in Yangon with a boost in population. With increasing numbers of factories, industries and private housing in Yangon day after day, there is an urgent need for the adequate drinking water the Yangonites are going to use every day.
Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC) is working in partnership with relevant departments and organizations including Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Water purification technology
Japan will provide Myanmar with water purification technology with the notion that drinking water can be used as soon as any water tap in Yangon is turned. Fukuoka from Japan will render assistance to Yangon’s water supply system, said Yangon Mayor U Maung Maung Soe.
It came from the MoU signing on Water Supply and Management Cooperation between Fukuoka from Japan and Yangon at Yangon City Hall on 7 December in 2019.
Speaking at the MoU signing ceremony, Mr. Soichiro Takashima said we are going to cooperate in water purification service. The Yangonites won’t need to buy purified drinking water any longer in the future. We will go on rendering assistance to Yangon’s water supply system in order to get safe drinking water as soon as water hydrants are turned in Yangon.
Reduction in waste water
The YCDC is now planning to privatize public water supply of Yangon. Privatization testing is being conducted in the wards in the townships in Yangon. The responsible persons explained waste water reduction programs to be launched in No 1, 2 and 3 wards in Mayangon Township in west district of Yangon on 23 December. Similar measures will be taken in other townships in Yangon.
Continued measures
The YCDC invited proposals from the private businessmen on 27 August in 2019 in order to privatize water supply project.
“The YCDC has to plan to hand water supply service over to the private businessmen with the aim of reducing illegal connection of water pipelines and waste water,” said Yangon Mayor U Maung Maung Soe.
The YCDC is still able to control a 60 per cent of waste water in water supply system of Yangon at present. Water will be distributed to ten designated zones after altering the whole water supply system of Yangon for ensuring that the Yangonites will be able to use sufficient water. The YCDC is in preparation for a new water supply system stockpiling water storage tanks and pumps to supply water to the designated zones.
Alteration to water supply system “We need to have sufficient amount of water to be able to supply water every day. We want water supply system to be better because drinking water is highly important to everyone. If we get purified drinking water, it will be able to save daily cost. It is a good idea that water supply system is going to be changed,” said Daw Phyo Wai, a resident who is residing in Mayangon Township.
A water pipeline has been built on Kaba Aye Pagoda Road with the assistance of Japan as part of activities of zonal water supply system. Plans are underway to build water treatment plants. The YCDC in cooperation with Japan-based JC Company is going to connect water pipelines and install water meters from January in 2020. The participation of the people is of great importance. At present the YCDC is collecting K88 for one unit of home-use water meter and K120 for one unit of commercial- use water meter.
Increasing amount of waste water
“The current amount of water supply is only 45 percent. It is expected to expand to 90 per cent in water supply program in 2025,” said U Than, joint-secretary of the YCDC on 15 July in 2019. The amount of waste water is on the increase in the water supply system of Yangon. Measures are being taken to lessen the amount of waste water to the lowest level. The waste water rate accounts for only a 2.5 per cent in the major cities in the world. There is only a 2 per cent of waste water in Fukuoka of Japan and it is the lowest level in the world.
Daily water supply of about 205 million gallons
The YCDC is supplying about 205 million gallons of water daily with the use of its reservoirs in addition to Gyobyu, Phu Gyi, Hlawga, Ngamoeyeik 1 and 2 Reservoirs.
Lagunpyin and Kokkowa projects will be finished in 2027. Kokkowa water supply project in Htantabin is expected to be finished in 2025. Upon completion of Kokkowa water supply project, water will be supplied to Hlinethaya, Botahtaung, Pazundaung, Kyauktada, Pabedan, Mingalar Taungnyunt, Dagon, Sangyoung, Seikkan, Tamway, Lanmadaw, Latha, Ahlon and Kyimyindine townships.
Systematic measure
Technical support for water supply system, water purification process, use of water meter and water pipeline connection will be sought from Fukuoka in Japan. The JICA is carrying out a pilot project in Mayangon Township. The YCDC is planning to hand zonal drinking water supply service over to the private sector.
Water supply system in Yangon will be systematic and waste water will decrease soon. At the same time, drinking water will be sufficient enough for the Yangonites to use.
Translated by Htut Htut (Twantay)
