Is raw water replacement being neglected?
(Baonghean) - In 2017, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment announced that the raw water source exploited and used by Quy Hop Water Supply Station for domestic water production was polluted, requiring businesses to find a new alternative water source. However, up to now, the raw water source continues to have arsenic parameters exceeding the standard.
Arsenic contamination again
Affected by storm No. 3, heavy rains have been frequent in Quy Hop district in recent days. For many local people, after a long drought, the rains have brought many benefits to crops and agricultural production activities.
However, for residents of Quy Hop town, the opposite is true, because heavy rain will have a negative impact on the raw water source that the water supply station is exploiting to produce domestic water.
"...With continuous rain and floods like this, all the toxic substances from the tin mines in Chau Thanh and Chau Hong are being released...".
Standing by the Dinh River, the water flowing rapidly, a yellowish-brown color, thick with mud, an official of Quy Hop town complained: “This year, even with the drought, monitoring results show that the water source of the Dinh River, where Quy Hop Water Supply Station exploits to produce domestic water, is still contaminated with heavy metals. Now with continuous rain and floods like this, it is only more worrying, all the toxic substances from the tin mines in Chau Thanh and Chau Hong are being poured down…”.
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| Dinh River flows through Quy Hop district. Photo: Nhat Lan |
It is true that in May 2019, the raw water source that Quy Hop Water Supply Station (under Nghe An Water Supply Joint Stock Company) was exploiting and using to produce domestic water had arsenic parameters exceeding the threshold. This information was stated by the Center for Natural Resources and Environment Monitoring in Document No. 173/QTMT, dated July 4, 2019 on "Report on monitoring the quality of raw water supplied to a number of water plants in Nghe An province" sent to the Department of Natural Resources and Environment.
Specifically, Document No. 173/QTMT informed that among 14 water supply points for water plants that were monitored, 11 points showed signs of pollution; of which, the water supply point for the Quy Hop water supply system had arsenic parameters exceeding the standard by 1.3 times.
Also according to the investigation, from the report of the Center for Natural Resources and Environment Monitoring, on July 17, 2019, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment issued Document No. 3891/STNMT.NBHĐ to the People's Committee of Quy Hop district and Nghe An Water Supply Joint Stock Company. In Document 3891, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment announced the results of monitoring the water supply point for the Quy Hop water supply system with heavy metal parameters of Arsenic exceeding the threshold.
Propose that the People's Committee of Quy Hop district implement measures to make organizations and individuals aware of protecting, preserving, and not causing negative impacts on the water quality of the Dinh River (thoroughly collect domestic waste, strengthen inspection of exploitation activities, strictly prohibit the discharge of wastewater, and bring waste into the sanitary protection area of the water intake area...).
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| Dinh River water (above Quy Hop Water Supply Station) is thick with mud (Photo taken on 26 February 2019). Photo: Nhat Lan |
At the same time, Nghe An Water Supply Joint Stock Company is required to perform the following tasks: Regularly monitor and track the quality of domestic water sources and ensure the quality of the water sources it exploits; apply appropriate raw water quality treatment technology to ensure the quality of domestic water for the people. Have a plan to exploit other water sources to replace in case of pollution incidents of the exploited water sources.
Again… suggestion
The pollution of the raw water source of Quy Hop Water Supply Station was announced by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment on December 25, 2017, in Conclusion No. 6947/KL-STNMT.NBHĐ. At this time, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment announced the analysis results for surface water samples taken at the raw water pumping station at Quy Hop Water Supply Station with TSS parameters exceeding 2.1133 times, surfactants exceeding 2 times, Chromium exceeding 1.05 times, and Arsenic exceeding 1.35 times; for surface water samples taken 100m upstream from the raw water pumping station of the plant, TSS parameters exceeded 2.533 times, Arsenic exceeding 1.35 times.
Regarding the treatment measures, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment requested Nghe An Water Supply Joint Stock Company to have a solution to treat the quality of input raw water to ensure water supply standards for the people. At the same time, coordinate with local authorities to conduct surveys and select locations to take other input raw water sources to replace the current water supply source to ensure long-term stability.
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| Faced with the reality of polluted raw water sources, since 2018, many families in Quy Hop town have had to pay workers to drill wells to get water for use. Photo: NK |
Because the need for clean water for daily life is urgent, when receiving information from Conclusion No. 6947/KL-STNMT.NBHĐ, people living in Quy Hop town were extremely worried and anxious. Many households have switched to using rainwater, spent money on drilling wells, or bought equipment to filter tap water; in addition, there have been petitions sent to authorities at all levels, relevant sectors and the Provincial People's Council.
On February 12, 2018, the petition of Quy Hop voters was specifically stated by the Provincial People's Council in Report No. 17/BC-HĐND (on the synthesis of voters' opinions and petitions during and after the 5th session of the 17th Provincial People's Council) sent to the Provincial People's Committee. It is requested that the Provincial People's Committee receive and promptly direct provincial departments, branches and Quy Hop district to consider and resolve according to their authority.
“Quỳ Hợp district voters reported that the raw water source at the water supply station is polluted, the water quality does not meet the permitted standards, the pipeline system has deteriorated and is slow to be replaced…”.
On February 28, 2018, the Provincial People's Committee issued Document No. 1176/UBND-TH on resolving voters' opinions and recommendations during and after the 5th session of the 17th Provincial People's Council, in which the Department of Natural Resources and Environment was assigned to preside over resolving the issue that Quy Hop voters had reflected. On March 28, 2018, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment issued Document No. 1510/STNMT.NBHĐ urging Nghe An Water Supply Joint Stock Company to strictly implement the handling measures that the Department had pointed out at the end of 2017; requesting Nghe An Water Supply Joint Stock Company to conduct a survey, select a location, design and establish a project to replace the raw water source for Quy Hop Water Supply Station...
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| Many families in Quy Hop town build tanks to collect rainwater for use. Photo: NK |
Finding a new water source that ensures quality to replace the polluted raw water source for Quy Hop Water Supply Station to exploit and use for domestic water production is something that the Party Committee and the government of Quy Hop district are very concerned about. Therefore, since mid-2018, Quy Hop district has proactively coordinated with relevant departments and branches to determine a new water source location that is quite convenient for Quy Hop Water Supply Station to exploit and use (only about 2 km away from this station). That is where Nam Chong stream meets Dinh river, right at the foot of Chau Dinh bridge. The source of Nam Chong stream, in the Nam Son and Bac Son areas, is an area with only natural forests, not affected by mineral exploitation, so this new water source is not polluted, ensuring the quality of raw water for Quy Hop Water Supply Station.
Immediately after that, the People's Committee of Quy Hop district also worked with Nghe An Water Supply Joint Stock Company to promote the construction of the selected new raw water pipeline system. However, up to now, Nghe An Water Supply Joint Stock Company has not yet answered when it will be implemented.
"As long as there are mineral exploitation activities at the headwaters of Dinh River, the domestic water serving the town's residents will remain polluted."
Speaking with Nghe An Newspaper reporter on August 6, 2019, Chairman of Quy Hop District People's Committee, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Tung affirmed that as long as there are mineral exploitation activities at the source, the Dinh River water source, the section where Quy Hop Water Supply Station exploits and uses to produce domestic water for the town's residents, will still be polluted.
Therefore, to ensure that people have access to clean water for daily use, the competent authorities need to suspend all mineral exploitation activities at the water source, or force Nghe An Water Supply Joint Stock Company to build a new raw water supply system for Quy Hop Water Supply Station. "Quy Hop District People's Committee will send a document to provincial agencies stating such a point of view..." - Mr. Nguyen Dinh Tung discussed.
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| Raw water treatment area at Quy Hop Water Supply Station. Photo: Ha Giang |
Quy Hop Water Supply Station of Nghe An Water Supply Joint Stock Company has a capacity of 5,000m3/day and night, providing domestic water for more than 2,300 households/11,537 people living in Quy Hop town.
