Focus on cleaning up domestic water sources for people in the flooded area of ​​Quy Chau

During the recent floods, Quy Chau district was the locality that suffered the heaviest damage in the province in terms of people and property. Up to now, overcoming the damage caused by the floods is still the top priority of the local government.

Not only were houses flooded, structures damaged, crops destroyed, etc., but now, after the flood receded, people in Quy Chau district are facing a lack of water for daily use, because the water source has been mixed with mud and cannot be used. In addition, many structures and water pipes were also swept away by floodwaters, causing cracks and cannot be repaired.

Ms. Luong Thi Hong in Chau Hanh commune said: My family uses two sources of water for daily life: well water and rainwater collected in a tank. However, in the recent flood, the water level rose to 3-4 meters, the entire tank turned murky and could not be used for bathing or cooking. After the water receded, the family had to buy 20-liter water bottles for drinking and cooking, using them sparingly because clean water is very precious now.

In Tan Lac town, in the recent flood, all 6/6 blocks were flooded, of which 4 blocks were heavily flooded, with more than 200 households covered by water. Up to now, the recovery work is being carried out day and night, in which the top priority is to meet the water supply for the people.

Mr. Vo Thai Tinh - Chairman of Tan Lac Town People's Committee said: In the town, about 60% of households use tap water, the rest use other sources. However, most of the water sources are polluted due to the water level rising too high. Currently, people buy water for temporary use and use chemicals to treat the water source. Some water tanks are so heavily polluted that they have to be pumped out, cleaned, and waited for the next rain to collect the new batch.

Ms. Lu Thi Thanh - Head of the Health Department of Quy Chau district said: From the time the water receded, all officers and employees of the department and the District Health Center were divided into groups to support cleaning the domestic water source for people in the whole district, in which priority was given to the most heavily flooded areas such as Chau Hanh, Chau Tien communes, towns... On average, 1 cubic meter of turbid water will be mixed with 1.5 - 3 grams of Chloramine B to dewater, make the mud settle down to separate clean water that can be used. This chemical is also being continuously supported to clean the water source for people in the whole district.

“Fortunately, up to this point, no epidemics have broken out after the flood. People’s health is basically guaranteed. Only a few people have been soaked in water for too long and have caught the common cold…” Ms. Thanh added.

Currently, Quy Chau district has directed health workers to provide chemicals to clean domestic water sources. Up to now, it has supported communes with more than 20,000 Aquatabs tablets and a large amount of Chloramine B to treat domestic water sources. Instructing households on how to use them and promoting food safety after the flood. In addition, health workers are also focusing on spraying disinfectants and sterilizing livestock barns to avoid outbreaks after the flood.

Regarding damaged domestic water works and washed away water pipes, Quy Chau district is directing communes to report and synthesize to balance sources and carry out restoration to ensure stable domestic water sources for local people.

During this flood, Quy Chau district suffered very serious damage, 1 person died, 1,210 houses were flooded from 1-5m deep; over 5,000 people had to evacuate; 3 communes and 6 villages were completely isolated, 7 schools were deeply submerged in water. Thousands of families had to live in a tragic situation. Temporary accommodation, hunger and cold due to damaged property and houses, swept away and flooded...

In addition, there were many landslides on traffic routes such as National Highway 48A, National Highway 48B, National Highway 48D, many spillways were damaged. Regarding agricultural production, the total flooded rice area was 442 hectares, sugarcane 91.3 hectares, cassava 4.1 hectares, the estimated damage was hundreds of billions of VND.