The pollution has been confirmed by the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment after examining water sample tests.

The department warned residents not to use the water, but they had no other source, said deputy director of the department Nguyen Thanh Sinh.

He said the pollution came from the uncontrolled use of pesticides and the pollution of the soil by livestock.

Water for cooking in the commune is brought from streams near Lien Ha 3 Village which is about 1km away. It costs VND3,000-4,000 (US$0.14 - 0.19) per 20 litres.

Hoang Minh Chung, a Lien Ha villager, said the village supplied more than 10,000 litres of water every day.

However, in the dry season, the water from the streams decreased sharply and there was no surplus for sale.

Local authorities, in co-ordination with the Department of Natural Resources and Environment and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, have considered a number of clean-water projects for Bao Ha Commune, but none have been carried out.

In 2006, the Lao Cai Clean Water Business Co Ltd surveyed the water source in Lien Ha 3 Village and wanted to build a large well to supply Bao Ha Commune. However, no families wanted to give up their land for the project.

The project also lacked funds because residents had little understanding about the need for pure water and they refused to contribute money to the project.

Last year the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development intended to build a water pipe from Ngoi Khoi stream in Lien Ha 2 Village, but the source of the water was much lower than the homes of residents.

Local authorities were calling for funding from enterprises and organisations so that they could supply water, said Sinh.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News