A PROJECT to improve Yangon’s water supply network that began in April last year is due to be completed by the end of 2007, a senior official at the Yangon City Development Committee said.

The head of YCDC’s Engineering Department (Water and Sanitation), U Than Tun, said the upgrade involved cleaning or replacing all the pipes in the downtown area.

The project will benefit residents by improving water quality, he said.

He said the work was being conducted in stages and would eventually cover the entire municipal area, adding that priority was being given to the downtown area because it had the oldest pipeline network in the city.

The network of pipelines that supply water to the six downtown townships – Botahtaung, Kyauktada, Latha, Lanmadaw, Pazundaung, and Pabedan – was first completed 115 years ago.

U Than Tun said 5183 metres (17,000 feet) of pipes in Kyauktada, Pabedan, Lanmadaw and Latha townships have already been upgraded with the cooperation of residents and the township offices of the United Solidarity and Development Association.

The deputy head of YCDC’s Engineering Department (Water and Sanitation), said some pipes needed to be cleaned because of sediment build-up.