Ho Chi Minh City: Pollution threatens tap water

Economic and budgetary board of Ho Chi Minh City People's Council has just published survey results on water pollution in Ho Chi Minh City. Accordingly, the water of Saigon, Dong Nai and Thi Vai rivers is increasingly polluted, potentially affecting water sources of Thu Duc and Tan Hiep water plants.

The pollution of canal and water sources in the city (TP) is getting worse and spread to a large area. Specifically, Thay Cai canal and An Ha canal (Cu Chi), B channel and C channel (Binh Chanh district), Ba Bup canal and Tran Quang Co channel (Hoc Mon) . water is dark brown, and the smell is very heavy and heavy. All targets exceed the permitted standards.

Water sources around Le Minh Xuan industrial zone (IZ) have a very high level of persistent organic matter; White leaf phenomenon in this area is still recurring. Tan Phu Trung Industrial Park and part of Trang Bang Industrial Park, Linh Trung 3 Export Processing Zone discharge polluted wastewater directly into Thay Cai Canal.

Industrial clusters and production facilities in residential areas in District 12, Binh Tan, Cu Chi, Hoc Mon and Binh Chanh districts due to lack of synchronous investment, no waste water treatment system, thus polluting the day. more and more with a wider range. The most severe is Binh Hung Hoa A ward (Binh Tan district) due to many plating, washing, dyeing, cloth and plastic waste facilities.

Drain from the production facility in Tan Phu Trung Industrial Park to Thay Cai canal (Cu Chi, Ho Chi Minh City) - Photo of Tuoi Tre documentary

According to the Economic and Budget Committee of the City People's Council, out of 130 hospitals and preventive medicine centers in the city, only 48 have standard wastewater treatment systems, the rest are hospitals that do not meet the target. Standard waste water treatment or absolutely no waste water treatment.

In addition to the polluting agents in the city, the untreated wastewater from industrial parks in neighboring provinces such as Tay Ninh, Binh Duong, Dong Nai and Long An follows the canal system pouring into the city to make the situation. more serious.

The Economic and Budget Department of the City Council proposed that the City People's Committee issue or recommend the central agency to supplement strict regulations such as withdrawing production licenses of violating enterprises, strengthening the responsibilities of the Board of Management. Management of industrial parks and export processing zones on the inspection of administrative sanctions for violating enterprises. IPs when signing contracts for enterprises to lease land must have conditions for environmental commitment, if they violate the contract, they will cancel the contract.

Regarding pollution issues in Dong Nai, Sai Gon, Thi Vai and Ba Bo rivers, the City People's Committee needs to take the initiative in coordinating and treating pollution with relevant localities.