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October 10, 2026 -
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The Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC) is implementing the Kokkowa Water Supply Project and Toe River Water Supply Project under its master plan to reduce groundwater use and ensure an adequate water supply for the city.
A YCDC official said excessive groundwater extraction could cause groundwater depletion, saltwater intrusion, land subsidence and environmental damage. The committee is therefore developing alternative water supply projects to enable Yangon to stop relying on groundwater gradually. Once sufficient water is available, measures will be introduced under relevant laws and rules to effectively reduce groundwater extraction. Action is also being taken against illegal drilling.
YCDC currently distributes 244 million gallons of water daily to Yangon residents through water sources and facilities including Hlawga Reservoir, Gyobyu Reservoir, Phugyi Reservoir, Ngamoeyeik Water Treatment Plant, Lagwunbyin Water Treatment Plant, and the water supply stations at Thae Phyu and Yangon Port.
To address the annual decline in Hlawga Reservoir’s water area amid reduced rainfall from climate change, the Hlaing River-Hlawga Water Augmentation Project was launched on 11 May 2021 and completed on 15 August 2022. The project can replenish Hlawga Reservoir with 60 million gallons of water a day. The supplied water undergoes sedimentation and treatment before entering the reservoir.
Yangon’s current water distribution network comprises 486 miles of transmission pipelines, 1,256 miles of distribution pipelines, reservoirs and booster pumping stations. The system covers 61 per cent of the city, supplying water through metered connections to approximately 3.19 million people. — ASH/KZL
