74 Public Utilities 6.2 WATER Urban water supply systems in Myanmar are generally very old, with only intermittent supply and poor water quality. Both Yangon and Mandalay distribute partly treated water, but the coverage is far from complete. Yangon was found to have consumer coverage of only 60% in 1997 (ADB, 1997). In 2011, the water supply coverage was still about 60% (ADB, 2011); further, water is available for less than 12 hours a day. This suggests that there has been little improvement since 1997. In comparison to this, there are many other areas that do not have any urban water supply systems and used tube wells, open wells and and pumps. 6.2.1 SOURCES OF WATER FOR DOMESTIC USE Yangon being the biggest city and the former capital had slightly better water infrastructure as compared to the other cities. It was observed that most of the MEs in Yangon had access to government water pipelines while most of them in Mandalay, Nay Pyi Taw, Mawlamyine and Bago used either personal tubewells, wells or got water from public wells for free. Only two MEs in Mandalay, Mya (Tailor, Mandalay) and Zaw (Tea shop owner, Mandalay) got water from government water pipelines. Crystals drinking water from public earthen pots Only some of them required water for their business and within this some MEs operated their business from home while some from the market.Thiri (potter, Nay Pyi Taw) bought 600 litre of water for MMK 200 ($0.2) from his neighbor everyday. His neighbour had a tubewell and provided water through a hose. He used this water for pottery. Than (fish monger, Bago) bought water from a water seller who got it from the river everyday. He charged for it acording to the distance he had to travel. At home, Than got water from the well. Crystals (Fan seller, Yangon) used to walk on different streets to sell fans and drank water whenever she spotted a public earther pot. At home, she had a well. Myint (basket weaver, Naypyidaw) weaved baskets at home and had a 120 feet deep handpump and used this water for both drinking and domestic use. She used the same water for soaking bamboo to make it soft before she used it for weaving the basket. Lily (coconut coir rope maker, Mawlamyine) used to soak coir before using it for making rope. She bought water from a private supplier for MMK 300 ($0.3). The supplier had a tube well at home and he delivered water through a hose everytime Lily asked him to deliver it. Handpump at Myint’s house