Hot weather, Cong Kep water mine attracts customers

Over the years, Cong Kep water has become an important source of drinking water for the people of Nam Dan district, especially in the Nam Nam region. Every day, people from all over the place, of all ages, flock here to get water.

According to locals, Cong Kep water is naturally sweet and cool, and most families when getting water, distill it to drink gradually instead of boiling it.

At noon, people still patiently wait to get water from Cong Kep. Photo: Huy Thu

During these hot days, the amount of drinking water for families has increased by 1.5 - 2 times, so more people go to get water from Cong Kep, and the number of cans and barrels brought to store water is also greater.

According to the owner of the water mine, since 5am, people from Khanh Son commune and neighboring areas, including neighboring districts of Ha Tinh province, have been waiting at Cong Kep to get water.

It is a rule that first come first served, last come last served, the water mine serves from early morning to night.

A boy waits his turn to get water. Photo: Huy Thu

People put their names on their cans and buckets and wait in line. The line of cans starts from the water point and stretches up the highway and is tied with steel wires. As the bottom can is removed to collect water, the top cans move down.

The natural water source in Cong Kep flows from two taps at a speed of about 5 minutes/tap to fill a 20-liter plastic can. This speed is almost stable all year round, so no one can be in a hurry. On sunny days, there are many people going to get water, the more cans there are, the longer the waiting time. People who go at noon may not get water until the afternoon. Currently, every day, hundreds of people from all over come to Cong Kep to get water.

Many people bring carts to fetch water. Photo: Huy Thu

Mr. Duong Van Son in Hamlet 9, Nam Trung Commune (Nam Dan) said: "On normal days, every time I go to Cong Kep, I only get a few cans of water. But with the hot weather like this, the water consumption is high, I have to bring a cart, carrying about 10 cans at a time to save effort. I leave early in the morning and can only get water near noon."

Although around Cong Kep water mine, some families drilled wells to provide clean water, and the mine owner also pumped water into a system of large tanks to supply to customers, people still prefer to wait to get water from the two taps flowing from the mountain.

People's cars are full of plastic cans of water from Cong Kep. Photo: Huy Thu

Mr. Nguyen Van Cuong, from Hamlet 1, Khanh Son Commune, living in Da Nang, was visiting his hometown and also took the opportunity to go to Cong Kep to get water. Mr. Cuong shared: “Born and raised here, I am used to drinking Cong Kep water, now that I am far away, every time I go back to my hometown, I like to go get water. Although I have to wait a long time, I still try to get water from these two natural taps.”

It is known that the Cong Kep water mine was put up for bid by the Khanh Son Commune People's Committee many years ago. Anyone who comes to get water must pay the mine owner a fee of 1,000 VND/20-liter can (people in the commune) and 5,000 VND/20-liter can (people outside the commune).

The hustle and bustle of carrying water home in the hot noon sun. Photo: Huy Thu

Mr. Dang Dinh Son from Duc Tho (Ha Tinh) said: "Since I learned that Cong Kep water is delicious, I often drive my car here to get water for use. On these hot days, even though I am busy with work, I still try to stop by here to get water."

Going to get water from Cong Kep on a hot day, there are many people, there is a fee, you have to wait a long time, sometimes you have to wait for a whole day and still don't get your turn, but people from Nam Nam and neighboring areas still keep coming to Cong Kep, hoping to get cool, fresh water.