Artesian wells not producing water as expected in Sittwe

By Admin 03 Apr 2023

DMG Newsroom
3 April 2023, Sittwe

Artesian wells are being dug to supply Kandawgyi Lake in the Arakan State capital Sittwe, at the instruction of junta chief Min Aung Hlaing, to help address annual water shortages during the dry season, but sources say the wells are producing little water.

During his trip to Arakan State in February, the junta boss pushed the idea to fill Kandawgyi, the major lake supplying Sittwe residents, with well water as the lake usually runs dry during the hot season. At his instruction, three artesian wells are being dug near Thinganet Village in Sittwe Township.

“We dug a well in the west of the village. That village did not produce water. So, we dug another one in the east. It produces water, but the output is poor,” a source involved in the digging of the well told DMG.

The wells are 200 feet deep and six feet wide, with the plan being to pipe water from them to Kandawgyi Lake.

Min Aung Hlaing inspected digging of the artesian wells during his visit to Sittwe on March 30, his third trip to Arakan State so far this year. He told officials of the Arakan State Administration Council to dig new wells as the existing wells are not producing much water, according to the junta-controlled Myanma Alinn newspaper.

According to state-run media, each artesian well is expected to supply 60,000 gallons of water per day.

Pumping such a large volume of groundwater over time will put Sittwe, a seaside city, at risk of sinking, water resource experts have warned.

Others have pointed out that the groundwater might be contaminated. “It is good to dig artesian wells. However, it might be contaminated. The wells will supply the entire Sittwe town.”

“The WHO [World Health Organization] limit for arsenic in drinking water is 10 micrograms per litre. So, we want authorities to make sure the water is clean before supplying it,” said a resident with knowledge of water resources.

Long-term exposure to arsenic from drinking-water or food can cause cancer and skin lesions. It has also been associated with cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

During his visit, the junta chief also suggested piping water from a dam in Ponnagyun Township to supply Kandawgyi Lake in Sittwe.