Operation and Maintenance ofDecentralized Domestic
Wastewater Facilities in Myanmar
presented byU Khin Maung Win
Managing Director
Myanmar Water Engineering & Products Co., LtdNo. (15), Thumingalar Lane (1) Tumingalar Housing Estate, Thingangyun
Tsp., Yangon.
Email : m.w.e.pcompany @ gmail.com
Tel : 01 571694; 018564547: khinmaungwin15 @ gmail.com: 09 5007560
1* Country Context

Banglades
hThailand
CambodiaImproved sanitation facility
Flush/pour flush to:
Pipedsewer
Septicsystemtank

Ventilated
Improvedpit latrine

Pit latrinewith slab

Composting
toiletTotal

State/Region
Kachin
Kayah
Kayin

0.0
0.0
0.0

31.6
4.8
2.2

5.7
0.4
1.2

53.9
74.3
69.4

0.9
1.7
0.7

92.10
81.20
73.50

Chin
Mon
RakhineShan(North)

0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0

0.3
2.9
1.0
16.0

5.6
12.9
1.6
3.6

76.8
75.0
41.6
42.8

4.2
0.4
3.9
6.0

86.90
91.20
48.10
68.40

Shan(East)
Shan(South)
Ayeyarwaddy
Bago(East)
Bago(West)Magwe
Mandalay
Sagaing
Tanintharyai
Yangon
Area
Urban
Rural

0.0
0.3
0.0
0.2
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.00.0
7.3

71.0
11.7
3.7
9.6
0.6
7.0
17.5
2.1
20.7
38.8

0.4
5.0
0.9
0.8
1.3
4.3
8.5
1.5
6.4
0.9

20.6
68.1
77.1
69.3
85.8
71.5
65.0
86.8
55.3
46.7

0.1
0.6
1.4
0.0
0.8
1.3
0.0
0.5
1.9
0.2

92.10
85.70
83.10
79.90
88.50
84.10
91.00
90.90
84.30
93.90

3.6
0.0

32.3
6.0

4.8
3.1

53.5
69.8

0.3
1.4

94.50
80.30

Miltiple Indicator Cluster survey (DOH)(2009‐2010)

Current Situation of Water andSanitation in Myanmar
Because of the underinvestment in urban
infrastructure and services such as watersupply, sanitation, drainage, wastewater
treatment facilities and solid waste
management that resulted in significantly
deficient urban services through outMyanmar.
Only 7% of Improved Water and Sanitation isavailable in Yangon and Naypidaw City.

Decentralized Wastewater Treatment
Facilities in Myanmar• Rural treatment facilities ~ Pit latrine/Septic Tank
• Satellite treatment facilities ~ Pit Latrine/Septic Tank
• Cluster treatment facilities ~ Not available• Onsite treatment facilities~ Septic Tank/ Anaerobic
Bio‐filter/ MBBR/ MBR• Small‐scale WWTPs ~ CAS system/MBR/Johkasou/
Anaerobic Upflow Bio‐filter

Related Organizations to Sewage &Sanitation in Myanmar
Organization
Name

No. ofTown
ships

Estimated
Population(Million)% improved
Sanitation

Type of Sanitation Facilities Used

Nay Pyi TawDevelopment
Committee

80.9241%(10000capita)

Septic tank system, Pit Latrine
A wastewater treatment plant

Yangon CityDevelopment
Committee

33

5.5

7.0%
( 300000capita)

A sewage system, Septic tanksystem,
ABF, Johkasou, MBR,
A waste water treatment plant, an
industrial wastewater treatment
plant

Mandalay CityDevelopment
Committee

62.498Nil

Septic tank system, Pit Latrine,
Oxidation Pond System
Future Plan of WWTP (ADB project)

Department ofDevelopment
Affairs283

49.455

Nil

Septic tank system, Pit Latrine withslab, others

(A)Septic Tank System

(B) Septic Tank with Up-flow Anaerobic
Bio-Filter System

(C) DEWATS system (B0RDA)
DEWATS Modules

Biogas digester

Anaerobic Filter

Settler

Planted Gravel Filter

Anaerobic Baffled Reactor

Pond Systems

(C) DEWATS system (B0RDA)

* Johkasou system(K-HC-T)

Kitchen BOD 200mg/L
ToiletBathLaundry

Airlift Pump

BOD <20mg/L

aerobic
anaerobic

filtration
13disinfection

(D) Johkasou System

SUBMERSE MEMBRANE MODULE & ELEMENT

(E) Membrane Bio-Reactor System

(F) Activated Sludge Process

Night-Soil Disposal (Desludging Waste) from
Septic Tank and Other Facilities
Total no. of Vacuum Trucks = 50
Capacity range= 200 ~ 1000 gal/truck
Minimum no. of disposal= two time/ truck
Daily Average Disposal= 40 ~ 90 time / day
Daily Night-Soil Volume= 50,000 ~ 70,000 gal/day
Quality of Night Soil :pH= 5.5 ~ 7.5BOD= 2500 ~ 3500 mg/l
COD
= 6,000 ~ 10,000 mg/l
SS
= 5000 ~ 10,000 mg/l
Note : Many foreign materials are included in night soil.

Night-Soil / No. of Collection at Yangon City for 2017
MonthsEastern
District

Western
DistrictSouthern Northern
District
District

Total

January

521

414

324

898

2157

February

545

408

320

891

2164

March

544

376

318

923

2161

April

633

306

274

759

1972

May

849

364

389

1203

2805

June

646

356

349

1034

2385

July

362

261

259

772

1654

August

435

305

246

735

1721

September

275

284

2236561438

October

430

254

256

608

1548

November

464

291

274

711

1740

Total

5704

3619

3232

9190

21745

Night-Soil Disposal At CDB WWTP at Yangon

Night-Soil Disposal (Desludging Waste) from
Septic Tank and Other Facilities

Foreign Material in Night-SoilHigh Solid Content in Night-SoilHigh solid content in Night-SoilWhat is “Decentralized” Wastewater
Treatment?
“A method of wastewater treatment thatcollects wastewater from the source, conveys
it to a treatment system, and disperses thewater near the point of origin.”
Dividing our wastewater infrastructure intosmaller, more manageable, pieces.

Current issue in Myanmar
Insufficient investment in preventive health care that
also resulted in :* severe health treats at many level,*incidence of diarrhea among children under 5 years ofage is higher than elsewhere in Southeast Asia
*the high prevalence of debilitating water related
vector borne diseases*significant in environmental and human healthchallenge

Identify Gaps and Key Challenges*Need to promote public awareness on waste disposaland management*Need strong policy effectiveness*Need close and strong relationships amonggovernment institution and private sectors*Need more financial support from both local andinternational institution*Need active participation of all stakeholders in waste
disposal and management*Need technology transfer in waste treatment andmanagement system

*What is Needed?
Improved management, including:*Better planning and system clustering*Improved owner awareness*Licensed/certified practitioners*Appropriate, risk-based application of technology to thereceiving environment*Long-term operation & maintenance*Inspections based on system type, location andreceiving environment*Effective and affordable options for difficult sites,
including clustered units*Consideration of all options (decentralized andcentralized)

* Voluntary Management Guidelines
5 Suggested approaches to management* Homeowner Awareness* Maintenance Contracts* Operating Permits* RME Operation and Maintenance* RME Ownership/Management
RME = Responsible Management Entity

* The Traditional Management Focus*Permitting: prescribed limits on acceptable sites;prescribed system designs*Installation: oversight of construction and installers
and/or licensing, registration*O & M: homeowner booklets and brochures, tankpumping info
*Corrective actions: repair or replacement required whencomplaints verified

* Elements of a Comprehensive
Management Program*Public Involvement*Operation & Maint.
*Planning*Residuals Management*Performance Req’ts*Inspections/Monitoring*Training/Certification/Licensing *Corrective Actions*Site Evaluation*Record-Keeping/Reporting*Design*Financing*Construction

Issues – Risk
• Largely based upon the selected collection
and treatment options• Risk of failure offset by homeowner’s
perception on impact to lifestyle• Smaller systems = smaller problems• Smaller problems = easier/cheaper fixes

Issues ‐ Financial• Emphasis on up‐front costs, while long‐term O&M costs are overlooked• Most facilities cannot afford a full‐timeoperator• Build‐out rates may create lack of funding• Discharge permits do not account for“phase up” of system risk
• Accounting responsibility changes hands•

Issues ‐ Maintenance• Lack of operators trained in innovative technologies• Current municipal operator examinations are notgeared toward small‐scale technologies• Still no comprehensive database of small‐scaleWWTPs < 10,000 GPD

Issues – Regulatory OversightCollection System• New connections – Who is responsible?
• Adherence to standards overlooked• Every sewage treatment works subject to this partshall be under the supervision of a properly certified
operator.
• Current permitting structure and administration
is fragmented.

The Positives
1. Private sector service companies or PPP aregrowing.
2. No shortage of available and affordable
Technologies
3. Manufacturer support/training is available
4. YCDC or ECD is open to reviewing affordable
and sustainable management plans for thesefacilities
5. Very cost effective, by comparison

The Positives
6. Remote telemetry is extremely valuable andaffordable for managing small‐scale WWTPs
7. Management is now emphasized
8. Perception of “public sewer”
9. Effluent quality is exceptional