YANGON, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar's Yangon municipal authorities have planned to privatize water distribution as part of its efforts to deal with water pipe leakage, water losses and staff shortage, according to the Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC) Thursday.

A total of over 30 local and foreign companies are seeking investment in the city's water distribution project, said YCDC Engineering Department on Wednesday, while inviting expression of interest for the project from the private sector under public-private partnership.

The Yangon authorities are raising awareness about systematic water meter installation, dealing with water pipe leakage, unsystematic water consumption, management of water loss in urban water distribution and curbing illegal connections to the water pipe network, said Yangon Mayor U Maung Maung Soe.

There are three main sources of water supply in Yangon city -- Gyo Phyu, Phoo Gyi and Nga Moe Yeik water reservoirs, providing over 2 million gallons of water every day. However, about half of the water supply gets wasted due to water losses and leakage in the supply system, he added.