VietNamNet Bridge – Hundreds of residents in northern Bac Giang Province's Duc Thang Commune have been forced to use contaminated water for their daily activities because of a leaking underground tank from a nearby enterprise.

Three months ago, more than 40 households in Hung Thinh Village, Duc Thang Commune in Hiep Hoa District reported the smell of petrol and the water had turned oily. Oil slicks were also seen in neighbouring ponds and rice fields.

The incident was reported to the district authority. Hiep Hoa District People's Committee found that gasoline leaked from underground storage tanks owned by Ha Quy Co Ltd.

Several years ago, the company installed six underground storage tanks with a capacity of 10,000 litres each.

The company has been ordered to repair leaking tanks and build a 3,000-litre clean water storage supply for residents while the committee studies the environmental losses.

Nguyen Trong Ngoc, a local resident whose house is about 50m from the leaking tanks, said water from his well was so contaminated that his vegetable crops died after being watered.

"We have to buy clean water at VND19,000 (US$0.95) per 20-litre bottle," he said. "It has been three months. Clean water is all we want. Something must be done."

Ngoc said about 20,000 litres of gasoline had leaked out and contaminated water resources. Several meetings were held with company representatives but the situation has not improved.

Resident Nguyen Van Phuong said the company's water storage was installed far from residential areas and it was too small to supply enough water for about 180 people.

Deputy head of the district's Natural Resources and Environment Office Nguyen Quang San said the company had been asked to install water filters free of charge.

The district's People's Committee Chairman Nguyen Thi Hoa said the company had been ordered to move all storage tanks out of the residential areas and promptly collect leaked gasoline. The company had also been asked to compensate affected households.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News