Ulaanbaatar connects its largest water source, the Western source, to the city network

Ulaanbaatar's new Western water source was connected to the city's central water network on the morning of November 2 and began supplying water.

According to MNB, the Western source was built with advanced technology under the second compact between the Government of Mongolia and the US Millennium Challenge Corporation. A 9-kilometre transmission main, 700–1,000 mm in diameter, was connected to the central network, and the source began supplying 14,000 cubic metres a day in its first phase.

Residents of the capital use an average of 190,000–210,000 cubic metres of water a day, while the Western source alone can supply 130,000–144,000 cubic metres a day, making it the largest water supply source not only in Ulaanbaatar but in Mongolia.

Ts. Törkhüü, head of the Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (USUG), said: "Ulaanbaatar's drinking water comes from 10 sources. With the new source in operation, we have the engineering capacity to supply 350,000–360,000 cubic metres a day. This means Ulaanbaatar will face no water shortage until 2050–2055." He added that a feasibility study for the "Tuul water complex", which would use surface water in addition to groundwater, has been completed and handed to the Ministry of Urban Development, Construction and Housing.

Ulaanbaatar's master plan to 2040 projects the city's population will reach 2.3 million by 2040, and officials say the new source can fully meet that population's drinking and household water needs.