Quickly solve the clean water source for people living along Chi Khe hydroelectric reservoir

Anxiously waiting for… clean water

Near the lakeChi Khe Hydropower Plant, but Bai Gao village - an eco-tourism destination of Chau Khe commune, Con Cuong district (old) - has been an area "thirsty" for clean water for daily life for more than 7 years. According to statistics from the Bai Gao village Executive Committee, out of 100 households in the whole village, 100% of them dig wells to get water for daily life, but at present, only a few households in high places, far from Chi Khe hydroelectric reservoir can "temporarily" use well water for daily life and drinking.

Ms. Lo Thi Phong's family lives next to the Chi Khe hydropower reservoir, so during the recent flood season, they often had to endure flooding. Ms. Phong's family's dug well (shared with her brother-in-law's family) is located in an empty garden, filled with mud. On August 29, 2025, the well water was observed to be yellowish in color and cloudy. According to Ms. Phong, from around the end of 2017, when Chi Khe hydropower stored water, the family's well water began to become polluted.

Mrs. Phong said: “Since then, every year has been like this. Every time it rains, especially when the hydroelectric plant releases floodwater, the well water is as muddy as river water. Well water is now only used for livestock. To have water to use, we have to collect rainwater, or ask for water from families with wells on high places…”.

The well water was “suddenly” polluted, so Ms. Phong and several households in the village wrote petitions to the provincial authorities many times for help. Around 2023, some inspection teams came to take samples for testing, and then there was an announcement that the complaint was well-founded. But even so, there was still no definitive solution.

Ms. Phong suggested: “Before the hydropower plant was built, the people of Bai Gao village did not have to suffer like this, so they are very upset. I hope that the competent authorities will study and completely resolve the pollution situation so that the people can have a stable life…”.

According to the Head of the Front Committee of Bai Gao village - Mr. Loc Van Tuan, the people's reflection on the pollution of dug wells is correct. The dug wells in the village used to be 14 - 15m deep before having water. After the hydroelectric plant stored water, the well water rose according to the river water level, about 4 - 5m had water. Therefore, the pollution of dug well water is caused by the storage of water in the hydroelectric reservoir.

Mr. Loc Van Tuan said: “Previously, the village was far from the river, surrounded by gardens and fields that people cultivated. Since the Chi Khe Hydropower Plant was built, the water in the reservoir has flooded the entire area. The hydropower company has compensated for these areas, but the water in the reservoir has polluted the well water, causing many households to have no clean water for daily use…”.

According to Mr. Tuan, through village, commune, party cell and executive committee conferences, the village has agreed to propose and recommend relevant levels, departments, branches and the hydropower company to conduct surveys and handle the situation, but there is still no solution to completely handle the water pollution situation. “Up to now, the solution is still only at the inspection and survey stage. The village has also expressed its opinion to the representative of Chi Khe hydropower plant but has not received any response…”.

In Bai Gao village, we visited Mr. Lo Duc Hanh’s family, who is “providing” water for daily use to 4-5 surrounding families. Mr. Hanh’s well is located quite high, on a cement floor with a roof. “To ensure the hygiene of the well water, I put a large bag of salt in there,” Mr. Hanh said. Observing, the well water is quite clear, not cloudy.

However, according to the Head of the Front's Working Committee - Mr. Loc Van Tuan, the water source from Mr. Hanh's well is only used temporarily and does not guarantee quality. Because: "It looks like that but it is not good. The water in this well has been sampled by the authorities for testing, confirming that many indicators are not guaranteed, especially the pH level in the water is higher than the standard level...".

Clean water for people soon

The current Chau Khe commune government has archived a number of documents related to the treatment of pollution of domestic water sources for people in the Chi Khe hydropower reservoir area. Notably, Document No. 6723/STNMT-BVMT dated September 28, 2023 of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (old) sent to the Provincial People's Committee. This document shows that, before the 14th Session of the Provincial People's Council (taking place on July 5, 2023 - PV), voters of Bai Gao village had made a petition, and therefore, the Provincial People's Committee issued Document No. 815/VPUB-TH assigning the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (old) to preside over the inspection and verification of the reflection that the hydropower plant stored water up to an elevation of +38m, causing pollution of domestic water sources and subsidence of people's houses.

Also here, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (old) reported on the verification of the current status and test results of related water samples (5 samples of surface water from Chi Khe Hydropower Reservoir; 16 samples of domestic well water). And concluded that the reflection of polluted domestic water and damage to works in the reservoir area of ​​Chi Khe Hydropower Plant is well-founded. Regarding the cause of pollution, it is due to the wells being exploited naturally without treatment, near direct sources of waste (livestock, toilets), and near areas where water is blocked when Chi Khe Hydropower Plant stores water.

For residential buildings and roads located close to the rising water level of Chi Khe Hydropower Plant, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (formerly) stated: "There will be a high risk of damage and landslides, especially when there is heavy rain or flood discharge from hydropower plants on the route."

From the above conclusion, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (old) proposed that the Provincial People's Committee assign Chi Khe Hydropower Joint Stock Company, Con Cuong District People's Committee (old), Chau Khe Commune People's Committee (old) to carry out the following contents: Handling stagnant points near people's living areas and in the reservoir protection corridor (from cos +38m to cos +40.87m); repairing and raising damaged roads and reservoir protection markers; taking measures to supply clean water and ensure environmental sanitation; cleaning up waste from the hydropower reservoir; propagating and raising people's awareness of environmental protection, recommending people to take measures to treat and filter water before use...

Notably, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (old) also proposed that the Provincial People's Committee assign the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (old) to preside over and coordinate with the People's Committee of Con Cuong district (old) to build a clean water supply system for people to ensure regulations on clean water supply and rural environmental sanitation.

According to Mr. Kha Van Thuong, Vice Chairman of Chau Khe Commune People's Committee, the Provincial People's Committee has issued an official dispatch directing the implementation of the contents proposed by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (old) in Official Dispatch No. 6723/STNMT-BVMT dated September 28, 2023. The authorities of Con Cuong district (old) and Chau Khe commune (old) then carried out the assigned tasks; and there was also a working group from the province to inspect and find a solution. However, up to now, they have not been able to support the people's domestic water source.

Mr. Kha Van Thuong, who was the Chairman of the People's Committee of Chau Khe Commune (old) for many years, added: From 2018 to the end of 2019, the People's Committee of Chau Khe Commune (old) received 120 petitions from people in 6 villages, petitions to inspect domestic water sources affected by the Chi Khe Hydropower Reservoir. The People's Committee of Chau Khe Commune (old) determined that the people's reflection was well-founded. Because these households all live in low-lying areas, close to the edge of the Chi Khe Hydropower Reservoir, when the water level of the reservoir rises, it affects people's well water...

According to Mr. Kha Van Thuong, the People's Committee of Con Cuong District (old) and Chau Khe Commune (old) have worked with Chi Khe Hydropower Joint Stock Company several times to discuss solutions. However, the two sides have not yet found a common voice to resolve the problem.

Mr. Kha Van Thuong worried: "I really hope that all levels and sectors will organize inspections and objective assessments to have support plans and solve the problem of domestic water so that people can stabilize their lives...".

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On August 26, 2025, the Provincial People's Committee issued Document No. 8864/UBND-TH assigning relevant departments, branches, agencies, units and localities to handle and respond to voters' opinions and recommendations.

According to Chau Khe Commune Party Committee Secretary, Mr. Lo Van Thao, through Document No. 8864/UBND-TH of the Provincial People's Committee, Chau Khe Commune is responsible for responding to the opinions of Bai Gao Village voters on the issue of pollution of domestic water wells of people living along the Chi Khe Hydropower Reservoir. Therefore, the Commune Party Committee has assigned the Commune People's Committee to make a plan, and in September will work with Chi Khe Hydropower Joint Stock Company to discuss solutions to handle voters' recommendations.

“This is the content that Con Cuong district (old) is interested in but has not been able to resolve completely. In the future, Chau Khe commune will work with the hydropower enterprise, and then report and make recommendations to the Provincial People's Committee and related departments and branches…”, Chau Khe commune Party Secretary, Mr. Lo Van Thao discussed.