Why did the North Canal become the "To Lich River" in Vinh City?
(Baonghean.vn) - The North Canal has a modern design with separate drainage ditches on both sides leading wastewater to the centralized wastewater treatment plant for treatment...
In 2020, the drainage ditch along Nguyen Sy Sach Street became clogged with mud and waste, causing wastewater to overflow.North CanalIt caused environmental pollution. According to workers from the city's wastewater management, operation, and treatment unit, they faced many difficulties in dealing with the problem that year. The reason was that the ditches, along with the sewer system, wells, and manholes, were buried deep underground; the ditch diameter was only about 1.2m; some pipes were only 0.4 - 0.6m..., while the sludge and waste were abundant and extremely toxic.
On February 16, 2023, following them down into the underground wastewater system, I confirmed these facts and also understood why waste could slip into the drainage ditches, sewers, and separation wells...
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The man in the photo is Le Ngoc Thanh, a worker at the Drainage Enterprise, Vinh Urban Infrastructure Management and Development Joint Stock Company. In 2020, Mr. Thanh participated in clearing mud and waste that were clogging the wastewater drainage ditch on Nguyen Sy Sach Street. He recounted: "It was very difficult to perform this task. Down there, we had to come up every 15 minutes or so to breathe. Collecting mud and waste was also very challenging. There was all kinds of waste, including household items and dead animals. That year, we even pulled up winter blankets..." Photo: Thanh Cuong |
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On the afternoon of February 16, 2023, wastewater gushed out from under the North Canal bridge in large quantities. Although the cause was known – sludge buildup in the main sewer line and manholes leading to the backflow and overflow of wastewater – the accounts of those cleaning up the sludge and waste prompted us to request that the operating management unit send someone to investigate the site firsthand. (Photo: Thanh Cuong) |
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Under the North Canal bridge on February 16, 2023. Photo: Nhat Lan |
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In principle, when there is no rain, the wastewater should be blocked by the baffle, flowing down the separation well to be transported by gravity through the drainage system to the centralized wastewater treatment plant. However, here the amount of wastewater is extremely large, overflowing the baffle and spilling into the North Canal. Photo: Nhat Lan |
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| Workers from the city's wastewater treatment plant use a shovel to probe for sludge in front of a wastewater separation well. Photo: Nhat Lan |
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The accumulated sludge here is terrifying. Photo: Nhat Lan |
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The cause of the waste entering the separation well and flowing down the ditch has been identified. The photo shows the waste barrier system of the separation well under the North Canal bridge, which is completely damaged, creating large holes that are unable to prevent waste from entering. Photo: Thanh Cuong |
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Along the North Canal, on the Phung Chi Kien road side, there are three more locations where wastewater is overflowing the retaining wall and spilling into the canal. Photo: Thanh Cuong |
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A reporter from Nghe An Newspaper descended into the wastewater separation well (near the 3/2 bridge) to document the current situation. Photo: Nhat Lan. |
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Here, wastewater rises, overflowing the barrier and flowing into the North Canal in considerable volume. Photo: Thanh Cuong |
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According to technical staff from the wastewater treatment plant management unit, they will soon be dredging mud and waste from the northern section of the North Canal, along Phung Chi Kien Street. However, the reality shows that a reassessment of the drainage system's infrastructure is absolutely necessary. If only dredging mud and waste is carried out without repairing damaged areas (such as the retaining wall of the separation well under the North Canal bridge), then after a short time, waste and mud will again clog the canal. The photo shows a reporter from Nghe An Newspaper working at the separation well near the 3/2 bridge. Photo: Nhat Lan |
