Announcement of results of domestic water inspection in Vinh city by the Ministry of Health

Deputy Director of the Department of Health Nguyen Xuan Hong answers questions from the press. Photo: Thu Giang

Responding to clarify this content, a representative of the Department of Health said that the Department has the function of monitoring, inspecting, and evaluating the quality of output water from domestic water production plants and warning when there is a risk.

“In the first 9 months of 2019, the Department’s competent agency, the Center for Preventive Medicine, took water samples for testing and inspection according to the correct procedure. Not only in 2019 but in all years, this is considered a regular practice,” affirmed Deputy Director of the Department of Health Nguyen Xuan Hong.

“However, after the two water plants in Hung Vinh and Cau Bach had some issues that the press was very concerned about, in addition to regular inspections and assessments, we also raised the issue and some units outside Hanoi also proactively took 10 water samples in 3 batches at the two water plants above for testing,” he added.

The Institute of Occupational Health and Environment tested and found that 7/10 water samples in Nghe An met 100% of standards. Photo: VSKNNVMT

Accordingly, the water samples in these batches were handed over to the Institute of Occupational Health and Environment under the Ministry of Health for testing. The results showed that 7/10 samples had 100% of the required indicators, 3/10 samples had residual chlorine levels exceeding the allowable standards according to TCVN 6496:2009 but still within the National Technical Regulation QCVN 01-1:2018/BYT.

However, Mr. Hong also explained that the amount of residual chlorine at the source can be higher and at the source can be lower, which is normal and not a big deal.

In response to the press's question about why the water testing results have not been announced, the leader of the Department of Health said that the tests of the Center for Preventive Medicine have been announced normally for a long time, and with these 3 sampling rounds, the Department is cautiously waiting to compare with other sources before announcing.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Ngoc Hoa emphasized that people must be able to use clean water that is truly clean. Photo: Thu Giang

Also discussing this issue that is of great public concern, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Ngoc Hoa affirmed: "The province's viewpoint is to create a healthy investment environment, people must enjoy clean water that is truly clean water, prices must be harmonious, and better and better...".

The Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee emphasized that the province has no direction on who will make raw water and who will make clean water. If any unit is capable of investing in pipeline infrastructure to the block or hamlet, and has a water treatment plant, the province is ready to create conditions for healthy competition.

With high indicators but still within the allowable threshold, the provincial leaders will pay close attention and ensure control so that these indicators do not exceed the threshold. The guiding viewpoint of the Provincial People's Committee is to have an automatic monitoring system, so that people and local leaders can access to check the quality of clean water.