VietNamNet Bridge – Various rivers in the northern province of Vinh Phuc are getting polluted by waste water used by households for daily chores and from trade villages.

One of the polluted rivers in Vinh Phuc Province.

A typical case is the Phan River.

Phan River passes through 24 communes in Tam Dao, Tam Duong, Vinh Tuong, Vinh Yen and Binh Xuyen districts. The river plays great importance in regulating water sources and maintaining the environment in the province. The river also supplies water to the Ca Lo and Cau rivers.

Earlier, the Phan River was wide with clean water, so residents could catch different kinds of shrimps and fish, in addition to being an important waterway transport route. During the urbanisation period, locals residing along the river discharged a large quantity of waste into the river and encroached upon the riverbed to build houses and for other purposes, due to which the river became seriously polluted.

Reports by the provincial authorities revealed that every day, nearly 20,000cu.m. of waste water from more than 210,000 households, 4,000cu.m of untreated waste water from industrial zones, more than 21,000cu.m of waste of millions of livestock and poultry and hundreds of tonnes of rubbish are discharged directly into the Phan River.

In Yen Lac District alone, hundreds of households engaged in jobs related to metals, nonmetals, paint, rubber and chemicals. Their waste also affected the water’s quality.

Pho Day River’s pollution recently attracted people’s concerns, who realised the river was becoming more and more polluted because trade activities along the river were increasing.

Bui Nhu Y, deputy director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said until the end of last month, hundreds of bags containing dead pigs were thrown into the Pho Day River.

Local authorities said the dead pigs were from the upper reaches and followed the water’s flow to reach Vinh Phuc.

The bodies of the pigs had a foul smell, causing pollution on a large scale and leading to the risk of disease for locals and animals.

To improve the situation, Vinh Phuc Province has invested VND32 billion (US$1.4 million) since 2008 to reduce pollution in 15 communes.

The province will implement a plan for land use in the Phan River area and prepare data to ensure environment management in the area.

The province will also give guidance to increase residents’ awareness and encourage them to join hands in protecting the Pho Day River. 

VNS