Experts warn of water crisis as Yangon population rises
Environmentalists have warned of a possible water crisis in Yangon, with the city's population forecast to almost double to 10 million by 2020.
U Ohn, an official from the Forest Resource Environment Development and Conservation Association (FREDA), said that freshwater would likely become more scarce as the city’s population grew.
“Some countries that lack freshwater have to rely on boreholes. Most people dig wells or boreholes in Yangon. At present, there are five or six million people living in Yangon. In 2020, the population in Yangon could reach 10 million. So residents may face a water-shortage crisis,” said U Ohn.
According to Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC), the use of boreholes will be abolished by 2025, meaning that townships will have to rely more on ponds, dams and purified river water. Currently, over 400 townships in Yangon rely on water from boreholes.
In order to provide water to townships west of Yangon, which need 909 million litres per day, a South Korean company is exploring the feasibility of pumping water from the Kokkowa River near Hlaingtharyar.
The Lagunbyin Dam project will start providing water in East Dagon Myothit Townships, and also help supply water to North and South Dagon Townships which currently rely on boreholes.
At present 606 million litres of water is consumed in Yangon every day, but the YCDC only serves the water needs of 65 per cent of the city’s 6 million population.
