Towards Understanding Water Governance for Sustainable Urban Water Management in Yangon City

Towards Understanding Water Governance for
Sustainable Urban Water Management in Yangon City

May Myat Mon
Water Resources and Water Supply Authority, Yangon City Development Committee

 

Abstract

Yangon City has already become water stressed due to the population growth, urbanization, industrial zones development, changing lifestyle pose serious challenges to water security. To access safe drinking water and distribute daily water demand for all city dwellers in Yangon is important for all water related organizations. This research focuses on understanding governance for sustainable urban water management under Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC). There are three approaches; Improvement of Institutional Management, Improvement of Non-Revenue Management and Improvement of Water Quality Monitoring are enhanced by Water Resources and Water Supply Authority (WRAWSA). According to that, capacity of YCDC on the management of water supply service is improved and set up strategies as well as actions plans to implement for sustainable urban water management.

Keywords: population growth, sustainable urban water management, Institutional Management, Non-Revenue Management, Improvement of Water Quality Monitoring

I. INTRODUCTION

Myanmar’s government, civil society, and population have recognized that water resources management systems must be put in place to ensure sustainable development of the country’s economy and resources as well as human and cultural values. As population growth and economic development in urban and rural areas increase water demand in the country, it is important for all water related to collaborate and coordinate to set up strategies and action plans to implement for Integrated Water Resources Management.

Yangon City is second capital of Myanamr but it is still the national center of economy, business and communication. It is situated in Lower Myanmar at the convergence of the Yangon and Bago Rivers about 30 km away from the Gulf of Martaban.

Currently, the population in Yangon City is about 5.21 million (2014 Census Data) and the city is growing with increasing population by urbanization. Moreover Yangon City is forecasted to become a mega city with 10 million populations in 2040. The more population is increased, the more water demand is needed in future. Besides, accessing to safe drinking water and basic sanitation and other domestic needs is still a problem in many areas. To provide safe water, hygienic living, and sound water environment for all city dwellers is first priority of water vision in Yangon City.

Therefore future development plans for water supply and sanitation services are required to formulate as well as understanding water governance is needed for sustainable urban water management. This study empirically examines the governance needs SUWM in WRAWSA.

II. OVERVIEW OF YANGON CITY WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM

2.1 Study Area

Water Resources and Water Supply Authority (WRAWSA) is one of the Engineering Departments under Yangon City Development Committee. Only 33 townships in Yangon City are included in YCDC but the administrative boundaries of YCDC have been gradually expanding.

2.2 Classification of Existing Water Supply

Existing water supply is classified into YCDC water supply system and Non-YCDC water supply system.

In YCDC water supply system, the raw water is mostly form reservoirs and tube wells. Then the water is treated and distributed through pipelines system and finally to reach customers. The water coverage area is 50% in 2020 for 30 townships out of 33 townships in YCDC area.

In Non-YCDC water supply system, the citizen get their daily water demand by ways of various methods; private tube wells, rain water storage, rivers, streams, ponds, bottled water, public tube wells as well as public taps.

2.3 Past Water Supply System in Yangon

Yangon City water supply system has a long history of more than 150 years.

In 1842, it is started to use 30 tube wells for water supply system. In 1879, Kandawgyi Lake is the first used for water supply system. In 1884, Inya Lake is constructed for water supply system.

In 1894, the pumping station and service water tank is developed by the construction of Phoesein pumping station and Shwedagon service water tank

(1MG storage capacity) in Yangon City. The water delivered from Kandawgyi Lake to Phosein staion was pumped to the Shwedagon service tank.

In 1904, Hlawga Reservoir (14MGD supply capacity) was constructed and the water from Hlawga Resevoir was pumped to Yegu pumping station by booster pumping station Hlawga Reservoir.

In 1906, the construction of Yegu pumping station was completed. And then the water was pumped to Shwedagon Reservoir which water was distributed to the whole city.

In Kokkhine service water tank (20MGD storage capacity) was constructed and added to the existing water supply system to expand the served area.

In 1940, Gyobyu Reservoir (27 MGD supply capacity) and water was supplied through Yegu pumping station to Kokkhine service water tank.

In 1989, Phugyi Reservoir (54MGD supply capacity) was constructed and added to the water supply system by connecting with Hlawga Reservoir which is distributed to Yangon City.

At that time, the total amount of daily water supply was 85 MGD, including YCDC owned tube well (10 MGD). In 2000, Yangon Pauk ground water treatment project was completed and the water supply amount is 1MGD.

In 2005, Ngamoeyiek WTP project (Phase1 with 45 MGD supply capacity) was constructed by Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation.

In 2009, South Dagon ground water treatment project (2MGD supply capacity) and Thaephyu ground water treatment project (11 MGD supply capacity) is added to the supply water.

Before the second phase of Ngamoeyiek WTP had constructed, the daily water supply amount is 108 MGD. The source of surface water is about 90% from reservoir and 10% is the ground water from tube well for daily water supply.

Now Kandawgyi Lake and Inya Lake are not used for water supply because the water quality is deterioration by rapid of urbanization. Phoesein pumping station is stopped, too.

2.4 Existing Current Yangon City Water Supply System

The second phase of Ngamoeyiek WTP in early 2014 and it started to supply daily water capacity 45MGD.

The current water supply amount is 205MGD. The source of surface water is about 92% from reservoir and 8% is the ground water from tube well for daily water supply.

The major water sources are Gyobyu Reservoir, Phugyi Reservoir, HlawgaReservoir, Ngamoeyeik Water Treatment (WTP) 1st and, 2nd phase and YCDC tube wells.

Moreover there are ongoing project Lagynbyin Water Supply Project (40 MGD) has been implementing and Kokkowa Water Supply Project (60 MGD) in future.

2.5 Aged Transmission and Distribution Pipelines

According to the long history of Water Supply System in Yangon, the water supply services commenced in 1842. Transmission and distribution pipes have not been rehabilitated and the old age pipelines did not have enough flow capacity as well as complex distribution without zoning system properly which results in large quantity of non-revenue water (NRW) and unstable water pressure.

Moreover other water facilities have not been expanded last decades.

The total length of distribution and transmission pipelines in whole network is 2655 miles.

2.6 History Water Treatment Plant (WTP)

According to the history of water supply system, 90% of water came from reservoirs, and two thirds of them is distributed directly without any treatment. In the old Gyobyu WTP, water is treated by sedimentation process without coagulant, Nyaunghnapin WTP is treated by rapid sand filtration and groundwater is treated by aeration method.

III IMPROVEMENT of WATER SUPPLY MANAGEMENT

3.1 Governance for Sustainable Urban Water Management (SUWM)

Water is the essential need of mankind for their life and living especially, the areas where the drinking water supply is systematically managed are more rapidly developing. It is not evenly distributed and well management leading to many problems and impacts in our environment. Based on these systemic and inter-related barriers (Brown and Farrelly, 2009), it can be surmised that there is a lack of insight into governance approaches required to support SUWM practices.

Governance describes the management of collectives issues, the stakeholders involved and process used (Kjаer, 2004; Pierre and Peters, 2000; Stoker, 1998).

Regarding good water governance for SUWM, WRAWSA is cooperating and collaborating with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Technical Assistance Team as well as implementing the project for “Improvement of Water Supply Management of YCDC” from 2016 to 2020.

3.2 Process of Preparation

According to that, the three approaches often identified are Improvement of Institutional Management, Improvement of Non-Revenue Management and Improvement of Water Quality Monitoring.

Improvement of Institutional Management; this article assesses the institutional prescriptions of adaptive (co-)management based on the literature review of water governance. The public participation, an experimental approach to water resources management and bioregional approach is essential for improvement of institutional management.

Improvement of Non-Revenue Water Management; it is rigid established and the activities to reduce NRW are continuously carried out by instruction of the trainers and based on NRW management plan.

Improvement of Water Quality Management; acquiring and developing water treatment technology and capacity of planning, designing and operation and maintenance are required for producing safe and clean water.

The following figure shows the standard parameters for water quality monitoring in WRAWSA’s Laboratory.

Based on it, the findings, advantages, and disadvantages are compared and analyzed with past water supply situation. Moreover WRAWSA learns neighboring countries successful urban water supply system.

IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

As a result of improvement of institutional management, the waterworks is managed as an independent and financially self-sufficient utility. It is also managed on the developed regulation, standards, guidelines and manuals as well as it have a continuous improvement structure of human resource capacity.

The waterworks is needed to enhance effective and efficient customer service. It’s also necessary to extend technology division to able to implement specific work operations and task allocation systematically. The extended Sections in New organization Structure are as follows.

As a result of improvement of NRW management, WRAWSA could establish NRW Management Session.

Moreover due to the old age pipelines, its capacity is low and it is happened leaking pipes which is so far cannot deliver as well as water losses by ways of physical damage and commercial loss. As a result of that, it is leading to NRW. Thus, WRAWSA could successful district meter area (DMA) for systematic water distribution pilot area in North Oakalapa Township (ward 2)

Based on it, the level of water losses can be determined by International Water Association standard water balance (IWA).

As a result of improvement of water quality monitoring, WRAWSA could establish standard operation parameters (SOPs), mini-laboratories in reservoirs and enhance the capacity of water quality analysis with advanced analytical equipment. The following figures show Water Quality Monitoring on sites and sampling locations.

Moreover improvement of water quality monitoring, the water treatment system is started to add chlorinational system as a piloet area in Yaegu Pimping Station. And also ther has another chlorination ongoing project for mid-term plan.

The existing water resource for Yangon City Water Supply System mainly depends on reservoir water. In future, water resource will also introduce as alternative water resources for water supply system. So WRAWSA is trying to carry out Water Resources Managemnet Plan and Water Resources Conservation Plan.

As a result of three approaches, it can be formulated again the problem solution to meet the improvement of water supply management as well as it can be developed 5 years plan and annual activity plan for WRAWSA.

According to that, “Management Improvement Plan” proposal is designed and proposed to improve the YCDC water supply industry in more advanced and successful.

V. CONCLUSIONS

Myanmar has many challenges in water quality, water supply services and sustainable development in natural resources. This research focuses on understanding governance for sustainable urban water management under Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC). 

The discipline knowledge, critical thinking and problem solving water project management are important roles for realizing how strongly important of water governance is.

Therefore these are the ways to provide safe water, hygienic living, and sound water environment to all citizens not only current situation but also in the future.

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