A water recycling plant — the first of its kind in Mongolia has begun construction.  

Ulaanbaatar is one of the world’s most water-scarce cities, and it is extremely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. In less than three decades, the population of Ulaanbaatar has nearly tripled in size, increasing the demand on the city’s water supply. The city now faces imminent water shortages that pose a significant threat to its residents and Mongolia’s economy.

The advanced water recycling plant — which is scheduled to begin construction this month — is an example of MCC’s commitment to countering climate change. The water recycling plant will help enhance Mongolia’s climate resilience and ensure a safe and sustainable supply of water to households and businesses in the capital city by freeing up 15 million cubic meters of fresh water per year for the people of Ulaanbaatar.  

In 2018, the Government of Mongolia and MCC signed a compact agreement to invest USD 462 million in total in the country’s water sector — USD 350 million from MCC and $111.8 million from the Mongolian government, one of the largest partner country contributions in the history of MCC. A significant portion of the Water Recycling Plant funding is made possible by the Government of Mongolia – a critical investment that will significantly enhance the impact of the overall compact.  

The compact will increase the available water supply in Ulaanbaatar by 80 percent through three integrated components: 

• The construction of both new groundwater wells downstream of Ulaanbaatar and a state-of-the-art advanced water purification plant to remove contaminants and ensure that drinking water is ready for widespread municipal use;
   
• The construction of a new wastewater recycling plant and pipelines to provide high-quality recycled water that can be used by industry; and,
   
• Strengthening the Mongolian government’s capacity through technical assistance and the implementation of policy reforms that improve the long-term sustainability of Ulaanbaatar’s water supply.