Meeting the clean water needs of Western cities

(Baonghean) - Due to the urgent need for clean water in urban areas in Western Nghe An, in 2001, Nghe An Water Supply Company Limited (now Nghe An Water Supply Joint Stock Company) implemented a project to build 6 water supply stations in towns in Do Luong, Anh Son, Con Cuong, Tan Ky, Quy Chau, Quy Hop districts from ADB bank capital and modern Danish equipment and technology (total capacity 7,500 m3/day).

To effectively manage and promote the above project, Nghe An Water Supply Joint Stock Company has established the Western Urban Water Supply Enterprise. One of the shortcomings in the early stages of operation of water supply stations is that although they have enough capacity to meet the demand for clean water, people still lack water.

Due to the limited capital for investment in developing the water supply pipeline system, only 5,000 customers using clean water were developed. During the operation, with the attention of the Board of Directors, the Company's Board of Directors invested its own capital and mobilized other legal capital sources to focus on developing the water supply pipeline. Therefore, in the town and neighboring areas, the level 1, 2 and 3 pipeline system projects were invested and developed synchronously, gradually meeting the people's need for clean water in a timely manner.

Operating the water supply system of Do Luong town. Photo: Hoang Vinh

Implementing the policy of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee, in 2003 the unit received Thanh Chuong Water Supply Station (capacity 1,000 m3/day), this is a clean water project invested with modern technology. In 2012 the unit received 2 more water supply stations Hoa Binh - Tuong Duong and Muong Xen - Ky Son, increasing the total capacity of the Western Urban Water Supply Enterprise to 8,800 m3/day.

In the system of 9 urban water supply stations in the West, Do Luong Water Supply Station has an initial design capacity of 2,000 m3/day and clean water production equipment and technology from Denmark. Based on the pipeline network from the ADB investment project, the Enterprise coordinates with relevant sectoral units and people to support the development of the water supply pipeline network.

Currently, Do Luong has nearly 58.8 km of water supply pipes of all kinds; of which level 1 and 2 pipes are nearly 12.6 km, level 3 pipes are nearly 46.2 km. With active investment in developing the water supply pipeline network, the station has not only promptly met the needs of people in Do Luong town but also expanded to 7 neighboring communes: Dong Son, Van Son, Luu Son, Yen Son, Da Son, Lac Son, Trang Son with a total of 7,500 customers.

In recent times, Nghe An Water Supply Joint Stock Company and the Western Urban Water Supply Enterprise have focused on investing in upgrading and repairing equipment, building auxiliary pumping stations, clean water tanks... to improve the operational capacity of 9 water supply stations such as: Do Luong Water Supply Station invested 1.5 billion VND to build auxiliary tanks; Tan Ky Water Supply Station invested 1 billion VND to build auxiliary tanks; Con Cuong Water Supply Station invested 1 billion VND to build auxiliary tanks; Quy Chau Water Supply Station invested in building 2 pressure filter tanks (100 m3/day) to increase capacity from 400 m3 to 600 m3/day; Tuong Duong Water Supply Station replaced with slow filtration technology with suspended layer; Ky Son Water Supply Station invested in renovating the sedimentation system...

As a result, the water supply stations have exceeded their design capacity and are currently operating at 11,000 m3/day (the design capacity is 8,800 m3/day). Currently, the Quy Hop Water Supply Station is repairing and upgrading the water supply pipeline to meet the clean water needs of Quy Hop town and surrounding areas.

Checking the block tank system at Do Luong Water Supply Station. Photo: Hoang Vinh

Mr. Dinh Trong Thang - Director of the Western Urban Water Supply Enterprise said: "With the efforts of enterprises and the support of all levels, sectors and people in investing in developing the water supply network system, it helps water supply stations operate effectively and increasingly expand to more water customers.

Currently, at 9 water supply stations, there is a total length of nearly 242.5 km of pipelines, of which the level 1 and 2 pipelines are nearly 73 km long and the level 3 pipeline is more than 169.5 km long. In 2016 and the first 9 months of 2017, Nghe An Water Supply Joint Stock Company invested 1.5 billion VND to continue upgrading the water supply pipeline system, replacing 1,850 water meters for free, installing 1,200 new sets of meters for free... With those practical actions, the unit has improved its operational capacity; in 2016 and the first 9 months of 2017, the Enterprise produced more than 6 million m3 of clean water to satisfy the needs of more than 20,000 customers.

Hoang Vinh