VietNamNet Bridge – Biggest rivers of Da Do, Gia and Re of northern port Hai Phong City, as the city's main water source, are getting seriously polluted.

Da Do River.

According to the city's Environment and Natural Resources Department, the three rivers have a total water volume of 40 million cubic metres.

The survey of Viet Nam Academy for Water Resources showed an excess of common bacteria in the Da Do River, including Coliform and E coli, is 29.4 and 11 times higher than the allowed level respectively. Ammonia also exceeds the limit by 15 times.

The contamination of Coliform, E coli and ammonia in the Gia and Re rivers also exceeds the limit, as shown by the city's water works companies.

Besides, about 30- 50 per cent of water samples recently taken from these rivers by the department does not meet requirements for the purpose of domestic use.

According to the department, the rivers are suffering from untreated sewage directly discharged from industrial areas, hospitals and residential areas.

The survey of Viet Nam Academy for Water Resources showed an excess of common bacteria in the Da Do River, including Coliform and E coli, is 29.4 and 11 times higher than the allowed level respectively. Ammonia also exceeds the limit by 15 times. 

Nguyen Van Chon, director of Da Do Water Works Company, said the quality of water river was being seriously degraded.

There are more than 120 workshops, 50 traditional craft villages, 11 hospitals, 60 health clinics and all residential areas discharging sewage without treatment into the Da Do River.

Tran Quang Hoat, director of An Hai Water Works Company said 50 residential areas, agencies and companies and An Duong Hospital, Luong Quy Cemetery and market were directly discharging rubbish and sewage into the Re river.

Nguyen Tien Son, a resident in the city's An Duong District, said the Re River was being polluted by hundreds of residential households.

They did not think they caused pollution because rubbish from markets was dumped into the river daily, he said.

Dao Huu Loc, director of the Thuy Nguyen Water Works Company, said nearly 40 violation cases who directly discharged rubbish into the Gia River had received punishments.

The experts said too many agencies were responsible for supervising and managing the rivers, leading to overlapping of functions.

They also agreed it was beyond of their capacities to manage the operation of companies to ensure they obeyed regulations of environment protection.

The city's relevant agencies were seeking solutions to save these rivers by improving infrastructure systems to collect and treat rubbish and sewage as well as raising people's awareness about protection of river water sources.

The Da Do River is a water resource for water supply companies of Cau Nguyet, Song He and Dinh Vu Industrial Area and another 35 companies supplying water for the city's rural areas.

The Gia River is responsible to provide water for 300,000 residents in the Thuy Nguyen District and some industrial areas.

The Re River serves as a water source for two local water supply companies.

Source: VNS