The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh Province faces severe threat of pollution as only 20% of domestic wastewater is treated before being discharged into the bay.

Untreated water discharged into Ha Long Bay

Most locals do not dare to go out for a swim in the bay's long beach despite the hot weather since wastewater is being discharged without treatment. 

Pham Manh Hung in Hong Hai Ward said he lived near the beach but hadn't gone out to swim for quite a long time because of foul water and the amount of the rubbish being dumped near the beach. He recently ventured out to the sea but the water still looked polluted. The areas near sewers are even worse since there is the rubbish floating in the black water.

Hung said his house was 10km away from the well-known Bai Chay Beach so some people still put up with the pollution despite being covered in rubbish after a swim.

Tran Xuan Bac in Bach Dang Ward said he felt itchy after swimming in the sea and had to switch to swimming pools which are always crowded. Many people like swimming but are too scared of the polluted water.

Black water around Ha Long Bay

According to Ha Long Urban Environment Company, 15.500 cubic metres of domestic wastewater is discharged into Ha Long Bay every day. Of which only 20% is treated under the USD30m project funded by Denmark in 2008.

However, the percentage of treated wastewater is decreasing because of increasing number of apartment complexes without wastewater treatment system. 

Quang Ninh Province People's Committee is completing procedures to borrow ODA loans from Japan for a USD150m wastewater treatment project. Wastewater from Tuan Chau and Viet Hung wards will not be connected to the system because of their location. However, a huge amount of wastewater is being discharged in Tuan Chau since it is the major tourism destination with a huge wharf.

Laodong/Dtinews