ASIA WATER MANAGEMENT FORUM

29th October, 2012

Seoul, Korea

WATER MANAGEMENT IN MYANMAR

Bo Ni
Director
Watershed Management Division
Forest Department
Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry

Presentation Outlines

Brief Introduction to Myanmar

Water Resources & Water Resource Management in Myanmar

Water Related Policies and Laws

Water utilization and challenges

Integrated Water Resource Management in Myanmar

Water Supply & Waste Water Treatment Facilities

Issues and Challenges

Conclusion

Brief Introduction to Myanmar

Topographic map of Myanmar

Situated in South East Asia and total land area

is about 676,577 km2

Population : 58.38 million (2008-09),

Growth rate :1.52%
Density : about 86 people /km2

Climate : Sub-tropical climate with three

distinct weather namely; Summer, Rainy and
Winter season
Temperature : Maximum 43C
Rainfall : Maximum > 5,000 mm
Minimum < 800 mm

About 70% of the people living in rural areas

Water Resources in Myanmar

Total Drainage Area : about 737,600 km2

comprise of major four rivers namely
Ayeyarwady, Chindwin, Sittaung and
Thanlwin

Discharge from the total drainage area:

1082 km3/ annum

Monthly distribution of river flow closely

follow the pattern of Rainfall; 80% during
the rainy season (May-October) and 20%
in dry season (November April)

Estimated groundwater potential : 495

km3

Water Resource Management in

Myanmar
The following Institutions are responsible for water resource management in Myanmar;

No. Institutions

Responsibility

Irrigation Department

water level recording and discharge

measurement, especially for irrigation dams
and canals

Meteorology and
Hydrology Department

discharge stations, sediment discharge

stations on main rivers and big tributaries,
water quality stations on Ayeyarwady delta for
measuring discharge and sediment flows and
monitoring salt intrusion

Forest Department

rehabilitation and conservation of forests and

watersheds and maintaining the stability of
Environment in order to develop the social
and economic conditions of the nation,
especially in rural areas

Water Related Policies

No.

Source

Statement

Guidelines on development
of rural areas

Ensuring adequate supplies of safe

drinking water

Roundtable Workshop on the

National Water Vision in Myanmar
cooperation with UNESCAP and
FAO, 2003

Sustainability of water resources to

ensure sufficient water quality of
acceptable quality to meet the needs
of the population in terms of health,
food security, economy and
environment

Mission statement for the water

sector

To establish a beneficial framework

and effective mechanism for
managing, developing, and protecting
water and related resources in an
environmentally and economically
sound manner in order to meet the
needs of the people of Myanmar

Water Related Policies

No.

Source

Statement

National Health Policy

To intensify and expand

environmental health activities
including prevention and control of
air and water pollution

National Policies in water sector

To expand safe drinking water

supply and adequate sanitation
facilities in order to fulfill the basic
needs of the people with priority
attached to the rural areas to
narrow up gap of disparity of social
and economic development
between the urban and rural

Water Related Laws

The Rangoon Water Works Act, 1885
The Burma Municipal Act, 1898
The Burma Canal Act, 1905 as amended by Burma Act, 1914, 1924, 1928 and
1934
The Burma Embankment Act, 1905 as amended by Burma Act 1923 and 1931
The City of Rangoon Municipal Act, 1922
The Underground Water Act, 1930
The Burma Water Power Rules, 1932

Environmental Law, 2012

It has been noted that laws, regulations and legislation set out in the
early 1900s needed to be reviewed and amended except newly
promulgated Environmental Law

Opportunities and threats in water

resources development
Opportunities

Threats

Rich in water resources

Sedimentation is one of the major

adverse effects of storage dams and
in the lower courses of rivers

Total utilization of the nations water

resources : only 5% (56 km3)

The development of industry and

increasing population density will
cause increasing river pollution and
health risks for people living close to
the rivers
Changing in landuse

Water Utilization and Challenges

total water withdrawal in 2000 was 33.2 km , 98.3% used in agriculture

sector, 1.2% used for domestic and 0.5% used for industry sector*

Dam Irrigation more than 1 million ha, river pumping about 150,000ha
and tube wells irrigation 36,000 ha

domestic water withdrawal per capita is 8.9 m3/year (24.4 liter/day)*

Committee responsible for Urban Water Supply

1. Nay Pyi Taw Development Committee(NPTDC)

2. Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC)

3. Mandalay City Development Committee(MCDC)
4. Township Development committee in each townships (TDCs)

Water sector faces several problems including climate change effects,

flooding and drought, impact of shifting cultivation, deforestation in
watershed areas, management conflicts of interest and weak coordination
within the agencies

* ESCAP Statistical Yearbook for Asia and the Pacific 2007, http://www.unescap.org/stat/data/syb2007/

Integrated Water Resource Management

Stakeholder Mapping

Integrated Water Resource Management

Proposed Myanmar Water Commission for Integrated Water Resource Management

Integrated Water Resource Management

It has been suggested that Myanmar Water Commission should comprise of a senior
minister as chairman and the ministers from water-related ministries as member
Suggested duties and responsible of MWC are;

(1) To lay down and prescribe the Policies and Guidelines concerning with water and water
resources and required assessment
(2) The preparation of water Laws
(3) The introduction of new laws, and the enforcement and amendment of existing laws
(4) To act as coordinator for water users of both consumptive and non-consumptive nature
and to give necessary instructions to the different water sectors
(5) To take necessary action where relevant

Integrated Water Resource Management

It has been also suggested that to establish a working (coordination) committee comprise of
heads of departments in the ministries concerned as members

Suggested duties and responsible of the working (coordination) committee are;

(1) To deal with international organizations as well as regional and national organizations
(2) Conduct coordination work between water sectors

(3) The preparation of standardization works for water quality of each sector of water usage
(4) To prepare and implement a National Water Vision
(5) To monitor and make the necessary assessments, e.g. environmental impact assessment
for water usage

(6) Recommendations for water and benefit sharing and resolving conflicts over
transboundary water usage between neighboring countries
(7) Decision-making and establishing the cause and effect of water use and development of
water resources

Water supply and waste water

treatment facilities
In Myanmar, the following governmental agencies are taking responsible and
committing all-out measures for provision of urban water supply services.
1. Nay Pyi Taw Development Committee(NPTDC)
2. Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC)
3. Mandalay City Development Committee(MCDC)
4. Township Development committee in each townships (TDCs)
Regarding to achieve improved water supply system, many agencies have been
involved such as three Development Committees, Department of Development
Affairs (DDA), Water Resource Utilization Department (WRUD), National Health
Laboratory (NHL), Environmental Sanitation of Department (ESD) and Department of
Health (DoH).

These agencies have been carrying out water supply and sanitation activities and
drinking water quality surveillance and monitoring pilot projects, Water Safety Plans,
Low Cost Water Treatment, Awareness and Capacity Building of community through
trainings, workshop and IEC Materials.

Water supply and waste water

treatment facilities
The NayPyiTaw (New Capital of Myanmar) Development Law was enacted in 2009.
Altogether 23 functions and duties are prescribed in the Law and the following Water
works in this Law are being used.
1.

Carrying out works for water supply;

2.

Carrying out works for construction and maintenance of reservoirs, water storage
reservoirs and pipelines;

3.

Carrying out works for sanitation and sewage;

Slow sand filter

Pumps at slow sand filter

Purified water collecting

ground tank

Water supply in Yangon

Profile of Yangon (former capital city)
age : more than three hundred years old
topography : slightly undulating and hilly
land in the center of the city and low flat
on the fringes
drainage : originate in the highest parts
run in all directions and finally drain into
the Yangon and Bago rivers
population : more than 5 million in
33 townships
city authority : Yangon City Development
Committee (YCDC)

Yangon city area map

Water supply in Yangon

a long history of more than 150 years.

340 000 m3 per day (1.5 million m3 per day in

2020)

4 reservoirs (Hlawga, Gyobyu, Phugyi, and

Ngamoyeik) and over 200 tube wells

water is supplied by the long-distance pipelines

only 37% of city area benefits and water pressure

is very low ( JICA study report, 2002)

Hlawga reservoir

Water supply in Yangon

the existing water supply facilities were

constructed during the colonial era

YCDCs water supply system is very low in terms of

water quality, quantity and pressure.

water supply is sometimes suspended.

consumers have installed their own pumps to

draw water from YCDCs distribution pipes to
ground or elevated tanks

consequently conditions of the distribution pipe

become negative pressure

some distribution pipes are contaminated by

ground water.

4th January, 2009

water transmission pipe from Gyo-phyu reservoir

19

Water supply in Yangon

Water treatment

water treatment plant installed at only Gyobyu

reservoir (coagulation and sedimentation)

treatment facility does not fully function because

coagulant is not injected.

supply water is without treatment

a lot of deposits settle in the pipes and the

reservoirs

the distribution pipes are blocked up by massive

floating water plants

Hlawga reservoir, operated since 1904

disinfection is implemented intermittently due to limited budget.

E-coli are detected in the water of the distribution pipe and in
reservoirs ( JICA study report, 2002)

Water supply in Yangon

Water supply program for out of YCDC water
supply area
tube wells dug on basis of self help
YCDC has to provide required technology &
equipments, machinery and engineers
the local residents/companies provide
financing
contributes significantly to Yangons water
supply system

..this is the main feature of public-private

partnership.

Public- Private
partnership
for water supply

Residential
area

Industrial
zone

Water supply in Yangon

Urban water supply rate : YCDCs current water tariff structure

Rural water supply rate

FROM VISION TO ACTION, A SYNTHESIS OF EXPERIENCES IN LEAST-DEVELOPED COUNTRIES IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

THE FAO-ESCAP PILOT PROJECT ON NATIONAL WATER VISIONS PHASE 2, Bangkok, December 2004
http://www.fao.org/docrep/008/ae546e/ae546e00.HTM

Issues and Challenges

Strengthening the legal framework to ensure effective and harmonious

integration of water resources management, development and protection
activities into the socio-economic development process of the country

Enhancement and consolidation of the existing systems

The operation, maintenance and rehabilitation of facilities safely, reliably and

efficiently

Prioritizing capacity-building needs in order to enhance organizational

capacity and effectiveness of the water resources coordination system

Conclusion
The pressure of rapid population growth and attendant demands for more
food will inevitably strain in the countrys water resources further.
Therefore, it will be necessary to establish a high-level Water Commission as
well as an effective National Water Policy covering water laws, disaster
preparedness, efficient water use, ecosystem conservation, institutional
strengthening and sectoral coordination of all relevant aspects.
Moreover, It is desirable to establish much more private water supply firms
in the course of development so as to reduce the burden on the government