The Looming Water Crisis in Myanmar's Cities

Most households in Hlaing Tharyar Township have relied on underground artesian wells for water since the township's establishment. Now, residents complain that the groundwater no longer flows as abundantly as it did when the township was first established.

During summer, despite each household using water pumps, they can't get enough water. The water output decreases as summer progresses.

"The main issue is the depletion of groundwater. When Hlaing Tharyar was first established, there was no water shortage. Now, we need to install larger motors for water pumping. Some even have to use air pressure pumps," says Ko Zaw Latt, a well driller from Kyun Su village in western Hlaing Tharyar.

He adds that in some areas, new wells need to be drilled because the existing ones have run dry.

Groundwater depletion is an annual occurrence in areas like Hlaing Tharyar and Dala in Yangon. What causes groundwater depletion? And what are its consequences?

The Path to Submergence

Experts unanimously point out that the worst-case scenario of excessive groundwater extraction is land subsidence and sinking ground levels. This can lead to entire cities being submerged underwater.

When groundwater is excessively extracted, the spaces between sand and rock particles underground become empty, creating voids. The weight from above causes the ground to sink. This results in building collapses, tilting structures, and road cracks.

Another factor causing major cities to sink is global warming and rising sea levels. As global temperatures rise, rainfall increases. Additionally, rising sea levels due to temperature increases lead to flooding. This is how major cities become vulnerable to submergence.

There are notable examples of this phenomenon worldwide.

International Stories

The World Economic Forum identified 11 cities most at risk of submergence in 2019. While these 11 cities are designated as the most at-risk, many other cities are also vulnerable. Here are some examples:

Jakarta, Indonesia - Jakarta is sinking by 6.7 inches per year, and most of the city could be underwater by 2050.

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Lagos, Nigeria - Africa's largest city faces significant flood risks along its low-lying coastal areas due to global warming and rising sea levels.

Houston, USA - Houston is sinking by two inches annually due to excessive groundwater use and now frequently experiences natural disasters like hurricanes.

Dhaka, Bangladesh - Due to rising sea levels, Dhaka might need to relocate 18 million citizens to safer areas by 2050.

Venice, Italy - Venice is sinking at a rate of 0.08 inches per year.

The best example of cities at risk of submergence or land subsidence is Mexico City.

In Mexico City, excessive groundwater extraction has caused the city's ground level to sink and subside. As a result, some buildings are tilting, water pipes are bending, and roads are cracking. Experts predict that Mexico City's groundwater could dry up within the next 200 years.

Mexican citizens extract 70% of their required drinking water from underground sources, which is exacerbating the problem.

Some countries in Southeast Asia, close to Myanmar, are also facing this issue.

A prominent example is Jakarta, Indonesia's capital. The Indonesian government is building a new city called Nusantara in the forests of Borneo Island. This isn't because they have excess funds; experts predict that the current capital, Jakarta, will be submerged by 2050.

Jakarta is experiencing notable land subsidence due to numerous legal and illegal artesian wells drilled for drinking water. Particularly, northern Jakarta has sunk 13 feet in the past decade due to rising sea levels and excessive groundwater extraction. 40% of Jakarta's ground level is now below average sea level.

Consequently, due to experts' warnings, from President Joko Widodo's administration to current President Prabowo Subianto's leadership, they're investing in building the new city of Nusantara in the forest.

In fact, Jakarta isn't the only city that experts predict will be submerged worldwide.

According to the World Economic Forum, Bangkok, Thailand's capital, is also facing the risk of submergence. Bangkok is sinking at a rate of one centimeter per year. Many other cities are included in this list.

So while the risk of major cities sinking isn't a global phenomenon, it's not isolated to just one country or city either. If natural disasters are ignored and preparedness is weak, cities risk being submerged.

Yangon Could Become an Island

Looking at the World Economic Forum's list, no Myanmar cities are included. However, there are reasons for concern.

During a Yaw Mingyi Zayat Talk by ISP Myanmar in 2019, historian Dr. Thant Myint-U warned that Myanmar is facing a climate emergency. He predicted that Myanmar would face frequent severe storms and warned about the consequences of global warming and rising sea levels for Myanmar:

"If global temperatures rise by four degrees, many areas in Myanmar will become uninhabitable. Not just the Ayeyarwady Delta but nearly all of Rakhine State will likely disappear. Yangon will remain only as an island."

Rising temperatures, sea-level rise, excessive groundwater use, and cities sinking underwater are all interconnected natural disaster issues.

For Yangon, a water resource expert points out another problem.

In densely populated Yangon, apartment buildings often drill one artesian well per staircase for groundwater extraction. Since these wells are drilled under the staircases, there are concerns about the structural safety of these contractors' buildings.

This is because excessive groundwater extraction can cause voids between rock layers underground as water depletes, leading to land subsidence. This subsidence can cause buildings to collapse or tilt. In the long term, if this becomes widespread, there's a risk of sinking and submergence, he warns.

Another issue is that when freshwater is excessively extracted from underground, saltwater can infiltrate and replace it, making it difficult to obtain drinking water. This is more likely to occur in townships near rivers in major cities.

Another point is that while Myanmar recognizes the need to prioritize natural disasters, instability prevents it from doing so. This creates a cycle where poverty leads to neglect of natural disasters, which in turn leads to greater suffering from natural disasters.

While environmental issues received attention after the 2011 political transition, the country is now again caught in conflicts. As a result, environmental issues, socio-economic development, and other national reconstruction matters have all been pushed to the background.

In neighboring Thailand, experts began noticing the risk of Bangkok's submergence around 2000. After experiencing frequent flooding, they've been implementing preparatory measures since 2019. Consequently, Bangkok's subsidence rate has significantly decreased. This marks a stark difference between Thailand and Myanmar.

Similarly, Indonesia is spending $33 billion to build the new city of Nusantara to replace the sinking Jakarta. Myanmar, however, has no significant preparations regarding water issues so far.

An expert who has been actively involved in environmental issues for many years says that if Myanmar is to prioritize environmental issues, water resources should be the main focus.

Now in 2024, as Dr. Thant Myint-U pointed out, various natural disasters are threatening Myanmar. The country is experiencing unseasonable rainfall, frequent storms, flooding due to heavy rainfall, extreme temperatures making it difficult for people to live, and even groundwater depletion.

In September 2024, nationwide flooding required all charitable organizations to provide assistance, and rehabilitation efforts are still ongoing. There were numerous casualties and extensive damage.

Therefore, water issues are no longer a matter to be taken lightly in Myanmar. It's become an urgent issue requiring immediate resolution. Without preparation, Yangon could end up underwater or become an island.

If we ignore nature, natural disasters will arrive uninvited. The floods have passed, but for Myanmar, natural disasters are far from over - this serves as a warning.

By Han Thit Eain (Y3A)

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