Residents living in Ea Tu Commune in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak’s Buon Ma Thuot City are concerned and call for solutions to curb the spread of ground water pollution.

Water from oil polluted wells could easily catch fire. 

Well water in the commune has been found to contain a high level of oil.

The oil was first detected in three wells in the commune’s Ju Village last July. 

Tran Van Que, a local, said his family first smelled the foul-smelling odour and saw oil in their well’s water last July, and reported it to the local authority. 

Que said the oil-polluted water could easily catch fire.

At present, oil is found in the water of 15 wells in the village, posing a high risk to the surrounding area.

The oil spread is allegedly a result of a leak at a nearby fuel station.

As tap water is not available for all local households, many use well water for cooking and farming, particularly when there are drought conditions.

Nguyen Van Tuyen, head of the Water Resource Section under Dak LakProvince’s Department of Environment and Natural Resources, said test results released last September showed water from local wells was contaminated with excessive level of oil.

Early last month, the provincial People’s Committee asked relevant agencies to examine underground fuel tanks of Hoang Vu Filling Station, which is some 150m from the polluted area, Tuyen said.

Chairman of Ea Tu Commune People’s Committee Nguyen Huu Vuong said these polluted wells faced high risk of fire.

The committee gave local families five fire extinguishers, warned people against using pumping machines to pump water from the polluted wells and asked them not to use the contaminated water for cooking and drinking. 

VNS