Rivers in Hanoi are seriously polluted

Hanoi is the city of rivers. Red River, Nhue and Day which surround the city, and To Lich, Kim Nguu, Lu and Set Rivers which are in the inner city, could be attractive water landscapes. However, the rivers have been mostly serving as waste water drainage canals.

There are hundreds of sullage pits along the two riversides of To Lich through which waste water is discharged to the river. To Lich also receives waste from hundreds of restaurants on the sides.

Like To Lich, Kim Nguu is also called the ‘dead river’. There are seven sluices in each kilometer of river. The waste water from the residential quarters on Lo Duc and Tran Khat Chan streets is discharged directly into Kim Nguu without any treatment.

Cau Bay River which runs through Long Bien and Gia Lam districts is considered the only drainage system for 6,326 hectares. It also provides water to irrigate 400 hectares of agricultural land in Gia Lam district. 

As a result of urbanization, Cau Bay is seriously polluted, and has been encroached upon, thus narrowing the current. Local residents complain that the situation is more serious in summer as the sunshine and heat worsen the bad odor.

Every day, Hanoians discharge 700,000 cubic meters of waste water and 1,000 cubic meters of garbage into the environment. Due to the limited capacity of the waste water treatment system, one-third of the waste water volume does not undergo treatment, but is discharged directly into rivers and lakes.

The municipal authorities have spent big money to dredge and improve rivers and lakes. However, the solutions applied so far have not worked because people continue discharging waste into the rivers.

Experts say in the long run, Hanoi needs to build treatment systems which treat waste water before it goes to river. There should be a sewer system which collects waste water and brings to concentrated treatment centers.

The plan on reviving rivers is mentioned in the Hanoi Master Development Program by 2030, under which three major basins will be formed, including the area of the Day riverside, the northern part of Hanoi and the old Hanoi area which will connect and create an uninterrupted drainage system.

A workshop was held recently to discuss solutions to save Kim Nguu River.

According to the association’s chair Tran Ngoc Chinh, if the idea on improving Kim Nguu environment is implemented, this will help improve the air for local residents and re-organize public activities to create an entertainment, trade and service center.

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