Mud fills sewers, wells, manholes..., wastewater overflows, Bac Canal 'like To Lich River'

The comment that the North Canal is now “like the To Lich River” was made by the Vice Chairman of Vinh City People’s Committee, Mr. Tran Quang Lam. The Vice Chairman of Vinh City People’s Committee made such a comparison when discussing the situation.environmental pollutionat many lakes and canals in the area and the solutions the city will implement, including both short-term and long-term.

North Canal from above. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Indeed, the Kenh Bac route (from Kenh Bac bridge to the intersection with Hung Loc - Hung Hoa regulating lake) is currently a strip of black water with a strong odor, true to the comparison "like To Lich river". The most severe odor is emitted at the locations where the water flows. For example, at the spillway (Post Office bridge), the black water flowing on the concrete surface looks like lubricating oil, and the odor is very strong. As for the cause, just standing at Kenh Bac bridge and observing can be recognized. Because the wastewater from the closed ditch (from Mai Hac De streetto the North Canal Bridge) continuously overflows freely day and night with a fairly large flow, turning the North Canal into a wastewater reservoir.

Wastewater from a closed canal is overflowing into the North Canal (photo taken on February 10, 2023). Photo: Nhat Lan

As the unit assigned to manage the operation and treatment of wastewater, Vinh Urban Infrastructure Management and Development Joint Stock Company, when asked, also confirmed that the North Canal is being flooded with wastewater. And this situation was determined from November 8, 2022, when the company's staff inspected and managed the operation of the North Canal.

The City Urban Management Department has archived an independent report dated November 9, 2022 of Vinh Urban Infrastructure Management and Development Joint Stock Company; Minutes of on-site inspection dated November 11, 2022 (Vinh Urban Infrastructure Management and Development Joint Stock Company, Vinh City Investment and Construction Project Management Board) on the situation of wastewater overflowing into the North Canal. According to these documents, wastewater overflowed into the North Canal at 4 locations.

At the point below the Kenh Bac bridge, wastewater overflowed the water separation spillway with a large flow. The cause was due to the sediment deposited in the sewer line and the separation well at a high level, blocking the flow. Specifically, the separation well GT3 had sediment deposited up to 0.6m high; manhole C4, sediment deposited 0.5m high; and in the sewer line C600 and manhole C5, sediment deposited 0.3m thick.

Wastewater backs up and overflows the spillway (Post Office Bridge) to Hung Loc - Hung Hoa regulating lake (photo taken on February 10, 2023). Photo: Nhat Lan

In the area of ​​3/2 bridge, there are two separation wells GT9 and GT10 and the surrounding sewers with high levels of sedimentation leading to blockage of flow and overflow of wastewater into the North Canal. In which, the sedimentation of sediment in separation well GT9 is 0.6m high; the sedimentation of sediment in separation well GT10 is 0.5m high; manholes C33 and C36 have sedimentation of sediment at a height of 0.3 - 0.4m; the surrounding sewers D600 and D800 have sedimentation of sediment at a height of 0.3m.

At Dong Y bridge area, at the location of the GT13 separation well, wastewater flows under the DN1000 sewer pipe. The inspection determined the cause of the perforation of the wastewater separation wall and the leakage at the bottom of the DN1000 sewer pipe; the GT15 separation well was deposited with mud and sand at a height of 0.6m; manholes C36, C44 and the D800 sewer line were all deposited with mud and sand at a height of 0.2m.

Wastewater and sludge pollute Hung Loc - Hung Hoa regulating lake. Photo: Thanh Cuong

From the inspection results, it was concluded that this was an urgent incident that needed to be handled immediately to re-operate the wastewater system of the North Canal; if delayed, it would directly affect the living environment of the people at the incident site and the entire North Canal. Therefore, the report and minutes included a report to the Vinh City People's Committee, requesting permission to prepare a dossier and estimate the organization of dredging of separation wells, manholes and sewer lines; reinforce the wastewater separation overflows at the discharge gates, and fix the leakage at the bottom of the GT13 separation well.

On December 9, 2022, Vinh City People's Committee issued Document No. 6666/UBND-QLDT on assigning the task of inspecting and handling the blockage of the sewer line along the North Canal. In particular, it assigned relevant units and departments to organize the inspection of the wastewater collection sewer line along the North Canal; and emphasized that "if a blockage is detected, make an estimate, organize dredging, and urgently clear the blockage to resolve the incident".

Before the tree planting ceremony in early 2023 of the province, hundreds of employees and workers of Nghe An Urban Environment and Construction Joint Stock Company have carried out thousands of working days to collect waste at Hung Loc - Hung Hoa regulating lake. Photo: Contributor

However, up to now, the incidents have not been handled, and wastewater still flows freely into the North Canal. Therefore, it has not only negatively affected the environment of the entire North Canal, but also affected the Hung Loc - Hung Hoa regulating lake. The reason is that there is no funding for implementation.

According to the study, to dredge and treat the sediment in the sewers, clogged wells, manholes, etc. along the North Canal, a budget of more than 287 million VND is needed. A responsible officer of the city's wastewater management and operation unit said: "Currently, the budget estimate has been appraised by the city's functional departments and will be approved in the near future..."