North Korea

Improve Access to Better Quality Water for the Population of Munchon

Amount of beneficiaries: 9,200 people, e.g. 1,700 households

Background and relevance of project:
Munchon city, with a population of 42,500, is located on the coast of North Korea. In the sixties, the government built a water network, however, owing to lack of maintenance and means, the network has become obsolete and inoperative.

Between 2005 and 2007, Triangle GH ran 2 projects, funded by ECHO, in Munchon. Phase one of the projects consisted in improving and building secure access to the water. In Phase two, we expanded and improved the water distribution network, providing 50 litres per person per day in the areas around the hospital.

General aim

Help to reduce the rates of morbidity and mortality, particularly among the most vulnerable members of the population, in North Korea. 

Specific aim

Increase and improve access to water of a better quality for the city’s inhabitants.
Indicators selected:
- 50 litres / person / day of good quality water available in the new districts involved in the project,
- production of at least 2,500m3 of potable water per day.

Main actions

Result 1: N°4 district’s water distribution network is rehabilitated; this also implies maintaining the infrastructures built and working on the former network to reduce leakage. 

Tasks include:
- running a topographic survey
- calculating and designing a new water distribution network
- preparing and running a purchasing procedure for the building materials and equipment
- reception and storage of purchases
- training (or updating skills) the workman recruited to perform the works
- building the concrete structures and distribution network (excavation, pipe laying, etc)
- performing a technical evaluation of the network

Result 2: Improved operation of the water distribution system thanks to strengthening of local capacities in the area of management (technical staff training).

Tasks linked to Result 2 include:
- checking the water production/distribution system (former projects)
- giving water management training
- supervising maintenance and repair of the network
- receipt of works & handover to local technicians

Result 3: the households have received information about water management: door-to-door awareness sessions and distribution of leaflets.

Tasks linked to Result 3 include:
- analysing local practices and knowledge linked to water management
- defining the contents of training and of messages to send out
- devising communication means
- training promotion groups about good water management
- running awareness campaigns (meetings and distribution of campaign documents)
- evaluating the change of water management-related practices