2.5 million people in Hanoi lack clean water

People in Hanoi’s suburban areas are forced to buy clean water at high prices due to a shortage of tap water.

In a report on Hanoians accessing tap water in 2016, the centre said the rate of people in suburban areas accessing tap water supply increased 3.3 per cent compared with the previous year. However, the city’s target of supplying clean water to all people in the city by 2020 would not come close to being achieved unless serious measures were implemented.

Many people in the west of the city, such as Đông Anh and Sóc Sơn districts, had to use water from ponds or wells for daily chores, impacting their health and causing diseases related to the skin and eyes.

According to a recent announcement of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Lũng Vị Village in Chương Mỹ District and Thống Nhất Village in Ứng Hòa District were the two villages with the poorest water quality in the country.

In some areas locating along the Nhuệ River, including Cự Khê Ward in Thanh Oai District, Tiền Phong Ward in Thường Tín District, Chuyên Mỹ Ward in Phú Xuyên District and Đông Lỗ Ward in Ứng Hòa District, the water quality was substandard. Some water samples were taken from a depth of 40-50m but still had foul odour.

Suburban people were even facing a shortage of water in the dry seasons and were forced to use contaminated water or buy water at high prices, such as those living in Trung Hòa and Trường Yên communes in Chương Mỹ District and Chàng Sơn Commune in Thạch Thất District.

The city authority has built water supply stations for these areas, but some have failed to ensure water supply for residents.

According to the centre, the city has implemented measures to attract investment capital from enterprises and individuals. The city has asked the Hà Nội Clean Water One Member Co. Ltd to expand the model of water supply using German water treatment technology to develop the water supply network in suburban areas.

The city has also ordered the company to disseminate information about the protection of water sources and reduce wastage of water.