Many households in Ninh Giang Township, in the northern province of Hai Duong, have said that their homes and drinking water are heavily polluted.

Red waste water from Huong Quynh Dang Joint Stock Company, specialising in producing pork meat for export, is discharged to a section of a ditch and then to Luộc River in the northern province of Hai Duong. — Photo suckhoemoitruong.com.vn

Local people said that they have suffered contaminated water since a frozen food processing company came into operation one year ago, Health & Environment online newspaper reported.

Waste water from Huong Quynh Dang Joint Stock Company, specialised in producing pork for export, is discharged into a section of a ditch and then to the Luoc River.

According to reporters and local residents, the red waste water, which looks like blood and has a strong odour, was poured into the river.

A resident in Hiep Luc Commune said that they have reported the incident to the local authorities many times but it has not been dealt with.

The local people here use the river water for daily life, so they have been very concerned about the pollution.

Many families nearby have to close their doors tightly when they eat dinner, due to the bad smell blowing through.

Meanwhile, Ha Minh Quang, head of the Natural Resources and Environment Division of Ninh Giang Township, said he had not received any official complaints from local residents.

Dao Van Vien, director of Huong Quynh Dang company, explained that the company’s waste water system was broken and that the company was trying to deal with it. — VNS