Many lakes in Hanoi are polluted

In 2004, 2007, 2009 and 2017, Hanoi put the issue on the table to find reasonable solutions to treat the water environment and revive To Lich, Tich, Nhue, Day Rivers and the lakes which are seriously polluted because of waste water from craft villages, residential quarters and IZs.

However, the limited budget, old drainage system and poor development of the transport, construction, electricity and water supply sectors have prevented implementation. 

Thirteen years have elapsed since the day Hanoi raised the idea of upgrading lakes and rivers. However, the quality of water at the lakes and river remains unchanged.

The latest report by CECR (The Center for Environment and Community Research) showed that only 2 percent of 200 lakes, rivers and ponds in Hanoi can satisfy water standards, while the majority of them have dissolved oxygen concentration below the permitted level.

Only 2 percent of 200 lakes, rivers and ponds in Hanoi can satisfy water standards, while the majority of them have dissolved oxygen concentration below the permitted level.

The report also pointed out that more than 80 percent of lakeside areas are polluted and face the risk of being appropriated by locals who use the areas for car parks, building material gathering areas and ‘open dustbins’.

Monitoring reports show that most domestic garbage and waste water is discharged directly into rivers and lakes.

The ammonium content in rivers and lakes hovers around 0.58-51.5 mg/l, while the permitted level is 1mg/l. The BOD levels range from 13 mg/l to 68 mg/l, but the permitted standard is 25 mg/l.

According to the Hanoi Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, Hanoi has 650,000 cubic meters of waste water a day, while the three operational waste water treatment plants (one more plant is going to be put into operation) can treat 250,000 cubic meters only. 

The remaining waste water is discharged into major lakes and rivers, including To Lich with the length of 14.3 kilometers which runs across the districts of Ba Dinh, Cau Giay, Dong Da, Thanh Xuan, Hoang Mai and Thanh Tri. 

Hanoians calls To Lich the dead river because of serious pollution. The dissolved oxygen concentration is much lower than the allowed standard, while the coliform, total solids TSS and ammonium content all exceed the permitted standards by many times. At some sections of To Lich river, the pollution can easily be seen and has a bad odor.

According to CECR, 11 lakes in Hanoi have signs of pollution, eight lakes are seriously polluted and six in very serious status.