VietNamNet Bridge – Households in HCM City's suburban districts are facing an acute shortage of clean water, with most residents using water from wells.

"However, water from the wells is affected by alum, and has an unpleasant odour," said Nguyen Thi Phuoc, a resident in Thu Duc District's Binh Chieu Ward.

Phuoc said households in the ward had not yet been connected to the water pipe system, even though they had submitted petitions about the matter to local authorities several years ago.

"We thought that we would be able to access piped water last year, after the Thu Duc District's Water Supply Company met with residents, some of whom agreed to pay fees to install water metres," Phuoc said.

The district's Water Supply Company said it intended to build water supply lines in several residential quarters in Binh Chieu last year, after speaking with local residents.

However, they said they could not start because the construction of underground sewage infrastructure projects in Binh Chieu was still going on.

"We'll begin the water supply lines immediately after these projects are completed," an officials from the Water Supply Company said.

Thousands of residents in many suburban areas in the city, including those in Binh Tan and Binh Chanh districts, have also been using water from wells for decades.

"Several suspended development projects have also hindered the construction of water supply systems in Binh Chanh District's Binh Hung Village," said Nguyen Huu Thanh Tam, deputy chairman of the village's People's Committee.

Tam has asked Government agencies to resolve problems related to the delayed projects soon.

"The Cho Lon Water Supply Company cannot approve investments in water supply systems in areas with suspended construction projects," he said.

"Expenditures for the systems are always paid by the water supply agencies, but the agencies have asked residents in areas with suspended construction projects to make contributions," he said.

Each household must contribute at least VND6 million (US$285) for water-supply lines, excluding fees for water metres to be installed in their houses.

"It's a high fee for the people, many of whom are poor," Tam said.

Residents in the area said they hoped that they would be helped by authorised agencies or that the Cho Lon Water Supply Company would cut prices for the poor.

Le Minh An, a resident in Binh Tan District's Binh Tri Dong Ward, said his family had used water from wells for many years although his house was only about one kilometre from the district's water supply station.

"Construction of water supply lines from the station to houses in the ward cannot start, as many construction projects have not been completed," he said.

VietNamNet/VNS