Ulaanbaatar residents use clean groundwater. The city's population is growing day by day. Due to this, residential areas are expanding and new buildings are being built and accordingly, the management of drinking water is also being improved. On the other hand, water pollution is caused by factors such as improper use, construction, and industrialization. Moreover, there is a risk of further water shortages because Ulaanbaatar residents consume an average of 150 million liters of water per day.

D.Sumiyabazar: Redevelopment of Ulaanbaatar is the way to protect groundwater and solve soil pollution

The Law on Water stipulates that provinces and capital city governors organize activities related to water resources and water use. In order to carry out this work comprehensively, a working group has been set up to work on the redevelopment of Ulaanbaatar. Here is a brief interview with Governor of the Capital City and Mayor of Ulaanbaatar D.Sumiyabazar.

-What measures are being taken to protect Ulaanbaatar city's drinking water resources and prevent water shortages?

-In 2018, former Prime Minister of Mongolia U.Khurelsukh agreed to build a second source of drinking water in Songinokhairkhan district with a grant from the Millennium Challenge Corporation. This work has begun in 2020 and is currently in full swing. With two sources of drinking water, city residents will be able to live without worrying about clean drinking water for 60 years. On the other hand, we need to use clean drinking water very sparingly. Therefore, the capital city authorities need to work on implementing the proper use of gray water and introducing gray water recycling technology.

In order to reduce congestion and decentralize Ulaanbaatar, the policy of gradually moving from a mono-centric city to a multi-centric city is being implemented. Due to this, soil pollution is being arised; therefore, soil pollution should also be considered to protect fresh groundwater. The only way to solve soil pollution is the redevelopment of Ulaanbaatar. With redevelopment, obsolete engineering networks and facilities can be rehabilitated in the medium and long term.

Ts.Turkhuu: Ulaanbaatar drinking water satisfies hygiene and safety requirements completely

Ulaanbaatar residents receive their drinking water from a total of 10 sources. The Water Supply and Sewerage Authority is responsible for delivering water from these sources to the public in a healthy and safe manner. Now in its 63rd year of operation, the organization employs 1,823 people 24 hours a day to provide the city's population with standard drinking water and for wastewater disposal. Head of the Water Supply and Sewerage Authority Ts.Turkhuu said:

-Water consumption per person in ger areas is 8-15 liters per day, while in house areas it is 160-200 liters. Because of this big difference, residents need to save water. The Water Supply and Sewerage Authority is working to promote about saving water to teenagers and include them in the study program in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science and the Capital City Education Department.

Drinking water is subject to complete laboratory analysis in all transfer processes. About 1,000 samples are taken from more than 300 spots per day and analyzed. The results show that the water we deliver satisfies the drinking water standard.

Water is an important part of our lives, but the following facts show that human beings do not save this vital need.

• 303 liters of water are required to produce one can of beer.

• 300 tons of water are required to produce one ton of steel.

• 9997 or almost 10 thousand liters of water are required to produce one pair of jeans.

• 265 liters of water are required to fill a standard bath once.

• 40-60 liters of water flow after five minutes of showering.

• If all the world's water were stored in a four-liter container, drinking water would be just one teaspoon.

CAPITAL CITY TRAINING, RESEARCH, AND PUBLIC RELATIONS AGENCY