Yangon Regional Government will partner with the Netherlands on increasing an effective water resource management policy in Yangon

The Yangon Regional Government has partnered with the Netherlands on creating an effective water resource management policy.

The country is facing various problems with water such as flooding in cities and towns, transport along shallowing waterways, and a safe and sufficient water supply for Yangonites.

“We are working on methods for water management in order to provide services that meet modern city standards, and avoid disasters,” said U Phyo Min Thein, Chief Minister of Yangon.

At present, major rivers such as the Ayeyarwady, Sittaung, Chindwin, and Salwin all face the same problem of shallow depth causing difficulties for water way transport.

We have a twofold problem in the rainy season; lots of freshwater that is badly needed in the summer is lost to the ocean, and of course flooding. An effective water management plan can reduce floods while reassuring water security in the dry summer months.

Yangon provides water to some of its residents using reservoirs such as Hlawgar, Phuugyi, Ngamoreyeik and Gyophyuu. However, it can only cover 45 percent of the population due to a massive loss of water form leaks. It’s estimated that the city loses half of its supplied water to pipes leaking, and taps being opened for excessive periods of time. This of course, causes weak water pressure across the entire system, and is painfully wasteful.

This is an issue that needs to be attached on all levels, from an effective city-wide plan, to architects and contractors that build our homes and offices, to the end user. It will require new building codes that demand low flow devices and automatic shutoffs for tank pumps, and a concerted effort to raise awareness to the general public about water usage.

There are over 5.2 million people in Yangon and the city provides over 200 million gallons of water to people daily.

The Dutch are famous for their prowess with water management. Having built what was declared as one of the seven wonders of the modern world, in the Dutch Delta Works, they are uniquely qualified to help Yangon dry out. The Netherlands literally means “lower countries” in reference to its low elevation and flat topography, with only about 50% of its land exceeding 1 meter (3 ft 3 in) above sea level, and nearly 17% falling below sea level. Most of the areas below sea level, known as polders, are the result of land reclamation that began in the 16th century. With a population of 17.34 million people, all living within a total area of roughly 41,500 square kilometers (16,000 sq mi) the Netherlands is one of the most densely populated countries in the world.  

(Myanmar Business Today: https://www.mmbiztoday.com/articles/yangon-regional-government-partners-netherlands-water-resource-management )

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