Many clean water supply factories in Nghe An were fined for contaminated water.

On November 28, the leader of Nghe An Department of Health said that the unit has just issued a decision to administratively fine 3 facilities whose water samples did not meet microbiological standards (Coliform contamination) with a total fine of 60 million VND.

This move was made after the Department of Health inspection team conducted a specialized inspection of compliance with health regulations in providing clean water for domestic use at 21 companies, factories, and water supply stations in Nghe An.

The inspection process lasted for more than 2 months, with the Cau Bach and Hung Vinh water plants inspected by the Department of Health in coordination with the National Institute for Food Safety and Hygiene.

Three clean water suppliers were fined for water samples contaminated with Coliform: Quynh Luu Water Supply Joint Stock Company, Hoang Mai Water Supply Company Limited and Cua Lo Water Supply Joint Stock Company.

Workers operating the system at Cua Lo Water Supply Joint Stock Company. Photo: Archive

The inspection team pointed out a series of shortcomings and limitations at clean water supply facilities. Accordingly, all factories and water supply stations do not have water quality management monitoring books. Water supply facilities have not yet conducted internal inspections of 15 A indicators according to regulations, specifically: 11 water supply facilities have conducted internal inspections with 13 A indicators (Hung Nguyen Water Supply Station; Nam Dan; Thanh Chuong; Do Luong; Tan Ky; Anh Son; Con Cuong; Tuong Duong: Ky Son; Quy Hop; Quy Chau); 2 facilities conducted internal inspections every 3 months with 15 A indicators (Dien Chau Water Supply Joint Stock Company; Yen Thanh Town Water Plant Management Board); 3 water supply facilities conducted internal inspections every 6 months with 15 A indicators (Quynh Luu Water Supply Joint Stock Company; Quynh Xuan Electricity and Water Cooperative; Thai Hoa Water Supply Joint Stock Company); Cua Lo Water Supply Joint Stock Company conducted internal inspections with 3 A indicators; Water plants in Hop Thanh, Nhan Thanh and Hong Thanh communes have not yet organized internal inspections.

Some water plants do not have records to monitor and manage water samples for testing (Hop Thanh Commune Water Plant; Nhan Thanh Commune Water Plant; Hong Thanh Commune Water Plant; Cua Lo Water Supply Joint Stock Company; Quynh Xuan Electricity and Water Cooperative; Quynh Luu Water Supply Joint Stock Company).

Rusty water pipes are one of the causes of water contamination. Illustration photo

In addition, most factories and water supply stations have not publicly disclosed the results of internal water quality inspections in accordance with regulations (Hop Thanh Commune Water Plant; Nhan Thanh Commune Water Plant; Hong Thanh Commune Water Plant; Cua Lo Water Supply Joint Stock Company; Quynh Xuan Electricity and Water Cooperative; Hoang Mai Water Supply Joint Stock Company; Quynh Luu Water Supply Joint Stock Company; Do Luong Water Supply Station; Anh Son Water Supply Station; Nam Dan Water Supply Station; Thanh Chuong Water Supply Station; Quy Chau Water Supply Station; Con Cuong Water Supply Station; Tuong Duong Water Supply Station; Tan Ky Water Supply Station).

20 factories and water supply stations have not yet fully reported quarterly and annually, except for Ky Son Water Supply Station which has fully reported in accordance with regulations.

Regarding the water sample testing results, most water supply facilities have water samples with residual chlorine concentrations higher than the standards specified in QCVN 01:2009/BYT but still within the allowable limits according to QCVN 01-1:2018/BYT.

In particular, there are 3 water supply facilities (Quynh Luu Water Supply Joint Stock Company, Hoang Mai Water Supply Company Limited and Cua Lo Water Supply Joint Stock Company) with water samples contaminated with Coliform.

The inspection team believes that the responsibility for the above problems lies primarily with the management of companies, factories, and clean water stations serving domestic purposes. The officers, employees, and workers in relevant departments of the facility, due to their failure to provide timely and proper advice, have allowed the above problems to occur.

Coliform bacteria are gram-negative, rod-shaped, non-spore-forming bacteria.

Coliform bacteria are gram-negative, rod-shaped, anaerobic bacteria that do not have spores. This is also a common group of bacteria that can survive well in many different environments, including water environments, including drinking water, domestic water, and aquaculture water. One of the common bacteria in the Coliform group is Escherichia Coli - often found in the human digestive system and indicates that the water source has signs of fecal contamination.

As a particularly harmful type of bacteria, Coliform is not allowed to exist in daily food and drinking water. According to QCVN 02:2009/BYT, the allowable Coliform bacteria content in domestic water must not exceed 50 bacteria/100ml, and for water used for drinking purposes it is 0/100ml (QCVN 01:2009/BYT). Coliform is one of the leading types of bacteria that cause dangerous intestinal diseases. When entering the human body, this bacteria will have an incubation period of 3 to 4 days before starting to cause a series of digestive disorders such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever, dehydration, blood disorders, fatigue, etc.