Effective exploitation of centralized water supply works

(Baonghean) - Currently, in the province, many centralized clean water supply projects (clean water plants) invested by districts and communes are facing difficulties in mobilizing investment capital or operating and exploiting ineffectively. Faced with this situation, specialized units in the province on water supply have boldly accepted the handover of a number of water supply projects, thereby effectively exploiting the projects, promptly serving the clean water needs of the people.

HUng Nguyen is one of the localities that strongly develops the investment program to build centralized clean water supply works, thereby rapidly increasing the rate of rural people using clean water that meets the Ministry of Health's standard 02. However, the sad reality is that there are water supply works with investment capital of billions of dong but have to temporarily stop construction for years just because they cannot continue to mobilize capital, or there are works that have been completed and put into operation but can only operate for a short time, at a standstill, or even stop operating because the more clean water is produced, the more losses there are; the revenue cannot compensate for electricity bills, chemical purchases, and maintenance of the apparatus...

The clean water supply project in Hung Tan commune has an investment capital of 2 billion VND mobilized from the State capital and beneficiaries' contributions. However, due to the investor's lack of experience in organizing implementation, from making estimates, bidding for construction, mobilizing capital... the construction is behind schedule, lasting for many years, causing frustration among the people. With the function of a specialized agency, after studying the reality at the water supply project in Hung Tan commune and receiving the approval of the functional sector to change the investor, the Center for Domestic Water Supply - Rural Environmental Sanitation has joined in contributing capital to build, manage and operate the project. The unit has coordinated with the consulting unit to re-establish the design estimate with the participation of the commune government and people to agree on the implementation plan.

After the design estimate was approved by the competent authorities, the investor established a financial plan and organized a meeting to mobilize beneficiaries to voluntarily contribute capital to build the project. With a public and democratic approach, creating consensus among the people, the mobilization of capital contributions from the people was very favorable. Therefore, the construction progress of the project was accelerated. After the project was completed, the Clean Water - Environmental Sanitation Center sent management and technical staff to operate. Due to good management, especially in ensuring clean water quality, developing the pipeline network, and preventing water loss, reasonable prices were ensured, thereby attracting many people to use clean water. These things help the Hung Tan Clean Water Plant project operate effectively, ensuring sustainability.

Similarly, at the centralized clean water supply project in Hung Thang commune, during the investment process, there were also difficulties in mobilizing capital. The Center for Rural Water Supply and Environmental Sanitation conducted a field survey and developed an investment plan for the clean water supply project. After completing all procedures, the capital for the water supply project in Hung Thang commune was mobilized according to the following ratio: The State supported 40% from the National Target Program, the Center for Rural Water Supply and Environmental Sanitation invested 40%, and the locality and beneficiaries contributed the remaining 20%. With such an investment capital contribution mechanism, the project was quickly completed with a total investment value of more than 4.7 billion VND. Mr. Nguyen Ich Xuan - Head of Planning Department, Center for Domestic Water Supply - Environmental Sanitation said, "The Center will continue to invest in maintaining and repairing water supply works and water pipeline network systems to effectively exploit operating capacity, promptly meeting the clean water needs of people at works received by the Center."

Thus, at some clean water supply projects that have not been effective in Hung Nguyen, after the specialized agency received, participated in investing, managing and operating the projects, the clean water plants have all operated effectively. Currently, the Center for Domestic Water Supply - Rural Environmental Sanitation is also managing and operating the clean water supply and rural environmental sanitation project in the Central region from ADB loan capital - Dien Yen Clean Water Supply and Rural Environmental Sanitation Sub-project (the project has a total investment capital of 52.8 billion VND, of which the water plant construction package is more than 37 billion VND). Accordingly, the clean water plant has a capacity of 1,700 m3/day and modern water treatment technology that meets the standards of the Ministry of Health, with enough capacity to supply clean water to more than 3,515 households in the commune and neighboring areas.

Que Phong clean water plant is invested, constructed, managed and operated by NA Water Supply Company Limited.

In Tuong Duong and Ky Son districts, the People's Committees of the districts have also invested in the project to build the Tuong Duong and Ky Son town water plants to meet the daily needs of the people. However, after a long time of operation, these two projects have not yet been effective due to lack of management and operation experience. Faced with this situation, Nghe An Water Supply Company Limited has taken over the project and at the same time sent management staff and technical workers to operate the project. Mr. Le Duc Thuan - Head of Ky Son Water Supply Station said: "After taking over the Ky Son Water Plant, the Company changed management staff and sent 4 technical workers from the Company to Ky Son. With a new management method and a suitable production and business plan, and timely support of equipment, materials, chemicals, etc., the quality of clean water has been ensured and the consumption network has been expanded. The plant has promoted its capacity and operated effectively..."

Previously, Nghe An Water Supply Company Limited only managed the water supply system of Vinh City, but due to the increasing demand for clean water of the people in the province, the unit has invested in many clean water supply projects in towns and districts. In addition, some localities, after being the investors of water supply projects, have transferred the management and operation to Nghe An Water Supply Company Limited. Currently, the unit manages 10 water supply plants in the localities with a total capacity of 11,000 m3/day. Mr. Nguyen Xuan Thang - Director of Nghe An Water Supply Company Limited said: "The merger of clean water plants in the localities to specialized management units is appropriate. According to the plan, in 2014, the unit will continue to manage the Hung Nguyen and Yen Thanh clean water plants".

Thus, the specialized units receiving and "supporting" the clean water plants that have been invested is a necessary task to overcome difficulties in capital mobilization, management and operation experience, helping to effectively exploit the works; at the same time, it is consistent with the current development trend of the water supply industry. However, in the implementation process, the units receiving the works encounter many difficulties and problems, such as: Some works have not implemented investment processes and procedures well; the team of technical staff and workers have not been trained, lack experience and expertise; the water supply pipeline system has not developed, degraded, causing water loss... Therefore, it is necessary to receive attention and support from functional levels and branches to promptly resolve.

Hoang Vinh