Experts Stress Needs of Tech Solutions for Vietnam Hanoi’s Wastewater Issues
Many experts have agreed that technology solutions are vital to addressing wastewater problems in Vietnam’s capital city of Hanoi amid the city’s limited systems for water sewerage and drainage, local media reported.
Dr. Tran Duc Ha, former director of the Water Supply and Sewerage Research Institute, suggested Hanoi take measures to enhance the inner-city lakes and rivers’ ability for self-cleaning. He also recommended a water quality and hydrological monitoring system to regulate water flow and control discharge from factories and treatment plants into the rivers.
Head of Hanoi Sewerage and Drainage One Member Company Limited’s system operations department Hoang Thai Ha noted that removing grease in wastewater at the sources will help reduce blockages as well as dredging, maintenance and repair costs for drainage pipes.
Hanoi currently has six wastewater treatment plants, namely Kim Lien, Truc Bach, Yen So, Ho Tay, Bay Mau, and Bac Thang Long-Van Tri. Their combined capacity can only respond to around 28.8% of the total wastewater volume requiring treatment.
According to the city’s plan for urban wastewater treatment and drainage system for 2021-2025, Hanoi will further work on large-scale treatment plants and build a decentralized treatment system for each area. The capital city also plans to raise awareness of environmental protection and water drainage fees, while allocating financial resources and promulgating policies for coordination among different stakeholders.