Residents in Ha Dinh Ward, Thanh Xuan District in Hanoi wait to take clean water after their tap water from the Da River Water Plant was contaminated by waste oil. — VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Dat

The Xuan Mai plant will supply 600,000cu.m per day.

The decision was released after voters in Ung Hoa District reported that water taken from wells was contaminated with arsenic. Long-term exposure to arsenic can cause cancer and skin diseases. It has also been associated with cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Early childhood exposure had been linked to negative impacts on cognitive development and increased deaths in young adults, according to the World Health Organisation.

To ensure people’s health, voters asked authorities to drive the progress of clean water projects for the district.

In a letter answering the voters’ proposal, the Hanoi People’s Committee said that on June 24, 2017, the city had assigned Aqua One and the Duong River Surface Water Plant to supply water for the districts of Thuong Tin, My Duc, Ung Hoa and Thanh Oai. The project is expected to be completed next year.

The city's People’s Committee has also assigned Aqua One to implement the Xuan Mai project. Work on the plant is scheduled to start this year.

Total investment for the plant is more than VND3 trillion (US$132.2 million).

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The water plant at the centre of a pollution crisis in Hanoi on Friday made an official apology to thousands of customers, promising them a month's supply for free.  

Hanoi advises residents not to use tap water for cooking

Hanoi has advised residents in several districts not to use tap water sourced from the Da River for cooking and drinking after high levels of styrene were discovered.

VNS