Local residents in Hoang Mai District, Hanoi prepare bottles to stockpile clean water after tap water in many districts in the city was polluted - PHOTO: VNA

PM Phuc also asked the ministries of Construction and of Natural Resources and Environment to team up with localities to examine the operations of water plants across the country to ensure local people are using safe and clean water, the Government’s portal chinhphu.vn reported.

Besides this, the Ministry of Public Security must investigate the cause of the polluted tap water and the substandard water supply of Viwasupco. Any violations must be handled in line with prevailing regulations, said the PM.

He urged these ministries and agencies to complete the assigned tasks and report to him before October 25.

The foul tap water supplied by the firm has provoked public concern. The daily activities of thousands of people in the southwest of Hanoi have been affected by the water pollution.

The Song Da Water plant of Viwasupco provides 250,000-260,000 cubic meters of water per day for Hanoi residents.

The water is supplied through distributors such as Viwaco, Hadowa, Dong Tien Thanh Ha Nam Company and Ngoc Hai Company, according to the VietnamPlus news site.

The 2018 annual report by Viwasupco also revealed that 90% of its water was sold to Viwaco, Hawaco and Hadowa.

Viwasupco has supplied water from the Da River to residents in the districts of Thanh Xuan, Ha Dong, Hoang Mai, Cau Giay and Dong Da and to a number of companies located along Thang Long Avenue.

The water is also provided to rural areas along the avenue in the outlying districts of Thach That, Quoc Oai and Hoai Duc by the Dong Tien Thanh Ha Nam, West Hanoi and Ngoc Hai Companies. After receiving the water from Viwasupco, the firms distribute it to over 80,000 customers in these areas.

Meanwhile, Viwaco is in charge of supplying water to over 140,000 customers in the Thanh Xuan, Nam Tu Liem and Hoang Mai districts. Hadowa uses 40,000-50,000 cubic meters of water from the river to serve roughly 150,000 customers in Ha Dong, part of Nam Tu Liem, and some communes in the Hoai Duc and Thanh Oai districts.

Overall, many districts in the city are using water supplied by Viwasupco. Therefore, local residents in these areas have voiced concern over their health being affected by the foul tap water, which was reportedly caused by engine oil being spilled into the river. SGT
 

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