HCMC has plans to collect a wastewater drainage fee of VND1,800-2,000 (8-9 U.S. cents) per cubic meter of running water used, starting from this year.

HCMC’s daily demand for clean water is 1.8-2.4 million cubic meters

The HCMC Steering Center of the Urban Flood Control Program (SCFC) will submit a plan for drainage fee collection from tap water users this month to the city government in March.

SCFC said annual drainage fee collection revenue is estimated at VND1.2-1.4 trillion (US$53.8-61.6 million). The money would be used to partly cover the cost of operating and maintaining the city’s wastewater drainage and treatment systems.

The city shall raise the fee on an annual basis and apply a lower fee to the poor.

SCFC said that when the plan is in place, the city would stop collecting the environmental protection tax which currently accounts for 10% of the running water price.

SCFC proposed collecting VND1,800-2,000 for each cubic meter of clean water. However, it will ask for comments and opinions from different agencies before making the final decision.

According to Saigon Water Corporation (Sawaco), 100% of HCMC households now have access to running water. The city’s daily demand for clean water ranges from 1.8 million to 2.4 million cubic meters.

SCFC said many wastewater treatment projects in HCMC have not been kicked off due to financial constraints. The city now has only one wastewater treatment facility capable of treating 141,000 cubic meters of wastewater a day and is calling for investment in seven other wastewater treatment projects.

The city discharges some 1.2 million cubic meters of wastewater a day, most of it drained into rivers and canals untreated.

SGT