Many households in Vinh City are suffering because the water plant is refusing new customers.
For the past few months, many households in Vinh City have been in a difficult situation because the water plant has refused to sign contracts with new customers. In particular, many households building new houses have had to find various ways to get clean water for the workers, while some households whose houses have been completed and are moving in still have to rely on their neighbors' water supply.
People are rushing to drill wells in the heart of Vinh City.
At the beginning of August, Ms. TH (42 years old, Hung Dung Ward, Vinh City) and her husband were still trying to leverage all their connections to secure a contract for clean water from Nghe An Water Supply Joint Stock Company. “We’ve asked everywhere, but we still haven’t succeeded. The house is almost finished, we’re about to move in, but we still haven’t been able to sign a contract for water,” Ms. H. said, shaking her head in frustration.
Ms. H. and her husband previously lived with her parents. Recently, the family bought a plot of land on Ton That Tung Street to build a house and live separately. All the necessary documents and procedures were complete. “In April 2024, I took the documents to the Nghe An Water Supply Joint Stock Company to sign a contract for clean water to supply the construction workers. But at that time, the water plant staff told me to take the documents home and bring them back about 10 days before the start of construction, and they would finalize the contract and send staff to connect the water supply. But when that time came, the water plant said they wouldn't sell water anymore,” Ms. H. recounted, adding that after the groundbreaking ceremony, the family waited for many days but still didn't see any water plant staff come to connect the water supply. Meanwhile, the construction contractor kept urging them because the workers couldn't work without water.
Out of impatience, Ms. H.'s family contacted the water plant almost daily to request a connection contract, but were repeatedly refused. Unable to wait any longer, Ms. H. and her husband reluctantly hired someone to drill a well to provide water for the construction workers. “The well water here is saline, so building a house will definitely affect its quality. The steel will also rust. But there’s no other way, so we have to choose this solution. But in the long run, we’ll be moving in soon and still won’t be able to buy water. I don’t know how we’ll live. If we were building in an area where the water pipes hadn’t reached, we’d accept it. But here, our neighbors on both sides already have clean water, with pipes running right in front of their houses, yet we still can’t buy and use it. It’s so unreasonable. I never thought I’d have to face this situation right in the center of Vinh City,” Ms. H. said helplessly.
According to reporters, it's not just Ms. H.; many other families in Vinh City are facing similar situations. Most families who built houses or moved here within the last few months haven't been able to sign water supply contracts. Therefore, they've had no choice but to drill wells.
Meanwhile, in Vinh Tan ward, Mr. VM (43 years old) said that, fearing it would affect the quality of his house, he didn't dare drill a well to get water for the construction workers. After a long wait without a contract from the water plant, Mr. M. had to ask his neighbor for permission to connect to their water supply to buy water from their household.
Not long ago, Mr. M. bought a plot of land in the Danatol Cua Tien urban area to move from a nearby apartment. In May 2024, Mr. M.'s family brought all the necessary documents and procedures to request a water supply contract but were refused. “Because we just bought land here, we don't know any of our neighbors. We waited a long time for a water supply, while the urban area's developer was urging us to build our house quickly, threatening penalties if we didn't finish on schedule. Many people advised us to drill a well, but I was afraid it would affect the quality of the house, so I didn't dare. After many months of waiting, a neighboring household took pity on us and agreed to let us connect from their house; I would pay them whatever it cost. I don't understand why, living in an urban area with water pipes right to our house, we still can't get a contract,” Mr. M. said angrily.
However, what angered these households even more was that, at the same time, a few other households building similar new houses were still able to get contracts from the water plant. “I also inquired with many other households building new houses at the same time and in the same area as us. They said they had to leverage their connections everywhere and ask for intervention to be able to buy water. I don't understand why buying water for daily use is such a struggle,” added Ms. TH.
The water plant is required not to refuse new customers.
Regarding this issue, Mr. Le Sy Chien, Vice Chairman of the Vinh City People's Committee, said that the city had received information reflecting this situation a long time ago. Subsequently, the Vinh City People's Committee had repeatedly visited and issued official documents to the Nghe An Water Supply Joint Stock Company. “We have repeatedly worked with and demanded that the Nghe An Water Supply Joint Stock Company cease this practice. Their responsibility is to supply water. They cannot simply sign a contract when they agree and cancel it when they don't. The water plant subsequently promised to develop a plan to rectify the situation,” Mr. Chien said.
Specifically, from June 21, 2024, the People's Committee of Vinh City issued a document regarding the provision of water to ensure the daily needs of the people in the area to the Nghe An Water Supply Joint Stock Company. The document also clearly stated that the Nghe An Water Supply Joint Stock Company is not allowed to refuse to sign contracts with new customers who are residents moving into the Vinh City water supply area.
Meanwhile, Mr. Hoang Van Hai, General Director of Nghe An Water Supply Joint Stock Company, said, "We are currently busy with many tasks and may not have reached that area yet. We have already issued a notice regarding this issue. The plant's capacity is only 92,000 cubic meters, but the current output has exceeded this volume. Therefore, many areas will experience weak water pressure. I can only answer this much," Mr. Hai said.
According to Mr. Le Sy Chien, Vice Chairman of the Vinh City People's Committee, regarding this issue, the City People's Committee leadership has issued a document assigning the Urban Management Department the responsibility to monitor the situation, perform its functions and duties according to the law, and advise the City People's Committee on fulfilling its responsibilities in ensuring safe water supply. At the same time, it is to compile a quick report and make recommendations to the Provincial People's Committee and the Provincial Steering Committee for Safe Water Supply for appropriate guidance.
However, in an interview with a reporter from Nghe An Newspaper, Mr. Nguyen Viet Duc, Head of the Urban Management Department of Vinh City, stated that his unit was unaware of this situation. “We have a document coordinating with Nghe An Water Supply Joint Stock Company. This situation does not exist. It is possible that these households moved in without permission from the authorities. If they had all the necessary documents and procedures but were not connected to the water source, I can confirm that this is impossible,” Mr. Duc said.
Meanwhile, the households that the reporter observed all had complete documentation and procedures. “We have all the necessary land use certificates and construction permits in accordance with regulations so that the water plant can sign the contract. The house is not located in a water-scarce area; all the surrounding houses have a full water supply,” Ms. TH affirmed.
