Tran Duc Ha, former head of the Vietnam Water Supply and Sewerage Association, said To Lich is the main river going through the inner city of Hanoi, but it has been seriously polluted for many years. Reviving the river and restoring the landscape has been a task for local authorities of many terms.

Of the solutions suggested to save To Lich River, experts believed that separating wastewater from the river was first required. The solution is being done with an underground sewerage system and the Yen Xa wastewater plant under construction.

However, there are many wastewater sources that cannot be collected and brought to the Yen Xa wastewater plant. So, additional solutions to treat wastewater at source are needed.

According to Ha, Hanoi needs solutions to treat polluted sludge on the To Lich riverbed. In 2019, the Hanoi Water Drainage Company used Redoxy-3C to do this, while Vietnam-Japan Environmental Ltd Co tried to use Japanese technology to clean To Lich River. 

However, before applying the solution, Hanoi needs to dredge sludge on To Lich riverbed.

Viet Nhat Environmental Company used Japanese technology to clean To Lich River according to this plan. However, before applying these options, Hanoi needs to dredge mud from the To Lich riverbed

Ha stressed that after implementing these solutions, Hanoi needs to replenish water and create flow for To Lich.

“In the dry season, Hanoi needs to replenish water by pumping water from Red River to To Lich River. This will help create an ecosystem for ToLich River and provide irrigation water for the southern part of Hanoi,” he said.

When To Lich River is cleaned, Hanoi will have to pay attention to create landscapes and entertainment areas for people on the two sides of the river. Fountains should be built at some places on To Lich River. Also, aquatic rafts with plants and flowers could be placed on the river.

In recent years, Hanoi has been trying to separate wastewater from To Lich River by building the Yen Xa wastewater treatment project, capitalized at $800 million.

Vu Trong Hong, former Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that building the Yen Xa wastewater treatment plant is a must, before Hanoi thinks of other solutions. 

However, project implementation has been going very slowly.

Bui Thi An, a 13th National Assembly Deputy, urged local authorities to speed up project implementation by placing blame on individuals and collectives for the tardiness.

Quang Phong