VietNamNet Bridge – Authorities in Ha Noi have decided to exploit surface water from the Hong (Red) River to ease water shortages and ensure a long-term water source for the city.

Workers repair broken pipe bringing water from the Da River to Ha Noi. Authorities have decided to exploit surface water from the Hong (Red) River to ease water shortages and ensure a long-term water source for the city. — Photo: VNS

The municipal People's Committee Vice Chairman Nguyen Quoc Hung told vnexpress newspaper that the city would start construction of a new plant to exploit surface water from the Hong River in Dan Phuong District in October this year.

The new plant is expected to supply more than 300,000 cubic metres per day to the city when it is completed by the end of 2017.

Another project has also been started to increase the capacity of the Bac Thang Long - Van Tri Water Plant in Dong Anh District. It is scheduled to provide more 30,000 cubic metres per day to residents of Hoan Kiem and Hai Ba Trung and several inner city areas by March next year.

More wells and underground water sources will increase the output of existing water plants.

Hung said that the city had decided to build an emergency pipeline to bring water from the Dan River to the area near the National Convention Centre. The 20km pipeline will help ease pressure on existing sources that could break at any time.

"The emergency pipeline will reduce the pressure and ensure safety on the main pipeline. After completion, it would share between 80,000 to 100,000 cu.m of water with the main pipeline to ensure water supplies for the city's residents," said Hung.

The water pipeline from the Dan River to the city broke again last week, the 13th time in the past four years. However, city authorities said they had already repaired the pipe before shortages were reported in Dong Da and Cau Giay districts.

HCM City new facility

HCM City's water supplier Sai Gon Water Corporation (SAWACO) yesterday (August 23) began getting water from the newly built Thu Duc Water Supply Plant- Phase III, which has a capacity of 300,000 cu.m a day.

The VND1.3 trillion (US$61.9 million) plant belongs to the Sai Gon Clean Water Business and Investment Joint Stock Company, of which SAWACO owns 60 per cent. Another water supply plant, Tan Hiep II, will begin operation next year.

Nguyen Thanh Chung, head of the city Department of Transport, hailed the opening of the plant.

The city has six other water supply plants with a total capacity of more than 1.7 million cu.m a day, he said.

The ratio of households provided clean water is 82.5 per cent, he said.

A plan for until 2025 envisages a daily need of 3.6 million cu.m, and so five more plants with a combined capacity of 1.6 million cu.m would be built at a cost of VND12 trillion ($571 million), he said.

Besides, 2,800km of pipes costing VND4.8 trillion ($228.6 million) would be laid, he added.

Source: VNS