Editor's Note

Introduction

Yangon, located in the middle of lower Myanmar, has a population of more than 7.3 million people according to the 2014 census. The Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC), which has existed as a municipal committee since colonial times, covers 33 out of the 45 townships of Yangon. As the population density in Yangon increases, so does the demand for water, which means that providing a sufficient water supply is a major challenge for Yangon. Population growth and economic development can also be directly affected by the water demand. 

YCDC supplies the city with water from Gyobyu, Phyugyi, Hlawga, Ngamoeyeik (First Phase), Ngamoeyeik (Second Phase) reservoirs and operates 442 tube wells. YCDC provides 27 MGD of water from Gyobyu, 54 MGD from Phyugyi, 14 MGD from Hlawga, 45 MGD from Ngamoeyeik (First Phase), 45 MGD from Ngamoeyiek (Second Phase) and 20 MGD from the YCDC-owned tube well daily in Yangon, but people still lack water. YCDC supplies enough water for just 38% of the households in Yangon. It seems that although YCDC distributes water to cover all 46 townships, most wards do not receive water access from YCDC because of various reasons. This study will give an overview of the current situation of water usage; examine the water supply system of YCDC; provide suggestions to YCDC for the implementation of an improved public water supply system; and help in understanding public opinion and the level of satisfaction that residents have with the YCDC water distribution system in Yangon.

Our survey was divided to cover both households which are using water from YCDC and those which are not using water from YCDC. The survey was conducted on 485 households located in 16 townships among the 46 townships under the YCDC by using the probability proportional to size sampling (PPS) method. Of the households surveyed, 212 receive water from YCDC and 270 households do not. There were three missing values when we analyzed the data. The results were analyzed separately by distinguishing the households which are reached from those which are not reached by the YCDC water supply.

Table of Contents

This paper is organized in five parts as follows:

1. Introduction

2. Accessibility and Quality of Water Service

3. Cost and Payment of Service

4. Evaluation of and Satisfaction with YCDC Services

5. Conclusion and Policy Implications

Author

Sandhi Governance Institute was founded by two master in public policy graduates in 2008 with the purpose of nurturing capable leadership in political parties and civil society organizations. Sandhi’s vision is to create a society where social justice and democratic governance prevails. Until now, Sandhi’s vision and mission are not much different from its past ones. It holds the vision of creating just, democratic and open society and its mission is promoting democratic governance in Myanmar. In relation to its vision and mission, Sandhi’s main objectives focus on enhancing capacity of main political parties, increasing transparency and accountability in public sector and strengthening participation of all key stakeholders in public affairs and major investments. Sandhi’s main programs include training, public-private partnership (PPP) and research program. Under training program, Sandhi is implementing 2-week (4 times) political leadership training for political parties and advocacy CSOs and short-term governance, public policy and leadership trainings. PPP program will provide trainings to relevant parliamentary committees, civil servants from implementing ministries and private sector for responsible investments, facilitating public-private dialogue for transparency and monitoring new PPP projects particularly BRI related ones. Under research program, Sandhi implemented public procurement research in 1 state and 2 regions (6 townships) in cooperation with The Asia Foundation from 2018 Dec to 2019 February. Sandhi has also published social research reports and data for those reports were collected by Sandhi’s political leadership training participants.