Assessment of Water Quality and Identification of Pollution Risk

Locations in Ayeyarwady River

Project description
(a) Current Problem
Natural Processes and anthropogenic activities are major causes of surface water
pollution worldwide processes. Toxic chemicals and pathogenic microorganisms can
be disseminated from the polluted surface water. It is important to evaluate the surface
water quality in drinking water sources. Therefore, the source(s) of contamination
have to be identified and appropriate management strategies have to be developed to
reduce potential public health risks.

(b) Brief description

Ayeyarwady river is a principal river of Myanmar, one of the largest free-flowing
rivers in Southeast Asia. The most important commercial waterway is along the
Ayeyarwady river. The Ayeyarwady is also the life of the Myanmar economy. As
economic growth and sustainable development are needed in Myanmar, it need to
maintain the naturally functioning systems within the river. The physico-chemical
parameters such as air and water temperature, pH, conductivity (EC), total nitrogen
(TN), total phosphorous (TP), nitrate (NO3-N), nitrite (NO2-N), phosphate (PO4-P),
ammonia nitrogen (NH4-N), total organic carbon (TOC), and chlorophyll a (Chl a)
will be analyzed. Temperature, conductivity and pH will be measured by using
temperature sensor and YSI Multilab 4010-3 W Three Channel Benchtop Meter.
NO3-N, NO2-N, NH4-N, and PO4-P will be measured using a continuous flow
analyzer (Skalar SA 1000, Breda, The Netherlands). The TOC will be measured by
high-temperature oxidation with a Shimadzu analyzer (model 5000; Tokyo, Japan).
Chl a will be measured by the following procedures recommended by American
Public Health Association.

(c) ---
(d) Beneficiaries
Myanmar population will directly benefit from this project. The people from Mekong
region will indirectly benefit by sharing technology, knowledge and outcome obtained
from this project.

Project Objective
This study aimed to evaluate the physico-chemical characteristics of Ayeyarwady
River in order to determine.
Expected outcome and Project sustainability:
The quality of Ayeyarwady River water is assessed via physico-chemical analysis.
The major nutrients that contribute to pollution in the river are identified. The output of the
project will be disseminated to Lancang-Mekong Cooperation. After the completion of the
project, the research methodology river water assessment will be developed in collaboration
among the researchers in Mekong region.

Time Frame (month)

Outputs Indicators Activities
Quarter 1 Quarter Quarter 3 Quarter Quarter 5
2 4
1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3
Output I1 A1
1 A2
Output I2 A3
2 A4
Output I3 A5
3 A6

A1 = Literature review
A2 = Survey
A3 = Temperature, Conductivity, pH -measurements and analyses
A4 = Nutrient- determination, measurements and analyses
A5 = Paper writing and reporting
A6 = Knowledge sharing activities
I1 = (A1) Thorough understanding about the problem statement and research methodology to
conduct the project
(A2) Background information of the study sites
I2 = (A3) Physical parameters of the river water
(A4) Several nutrients contributed in the pollution of the river water
I3 = (A5) Publication of the technical papers
(A6) Dissemination of the knowledge