Treating pollution in border canal systems: Localities join hands

Ho Chi Minh City has been making efforts to clean up the black canals to minimize environmental pollution and bring a better quality of life to the people. However, because some rivers, streams and canals flow through many areas, to achieve good results, it requires the joint efforts of the localities.

Domestic wastewater in Linh Trung Ward residential area, Thu Duc City discharged into Nhum stream. Photo: MINH HAI

Canals and streams are still polluted.

The drainage system of Cai stream - Nhum stream - Xuan Truong stream and Ba Bo canal (bordering Ho Chi Minh City and Binh Duong province) has been jointly implemented by the two localities to implement many solutions to reduce pollution. Ho Chi Minh City and Binh Duong invested more than 1,000 billion VND to renovate Ba Bo canal, both banks have been reinforced with concrete, however, the water under the canal always gives off a foul smell. According to observations, there are quite a few domestic wastewater pipes that are connected directly to the canal by people. Under the scorching sun, the foul smell coming from the canal becomes even more suffocating.

Similar records were recorded at Nhum stream. Although it has been concreted and embanked on both sides, pollution is still widespread, the water in the canal is always black and has an unpleasant odor due to wastewater directly discharged from residential areas.

Pointing down at the Ba Bo canal, which is bubbling white, Mr. Tran Van Dang (living near the foot of Provincial Road 43 bridge, Binh Chieu ward, Thu Duc city, Ho Chi Minh city) sadly said: People expect that when the renovation is completed, the Ba Bo canal with its "dead" water will be "revived", and hundreds of households living along the canal will be freed from the stench. However, the environment is still polluted due to untreated domestic and industrial wastewater still being discharged. Mr. Dang is worried that the pollution will affect people's health, especially children.

Monitoring results of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Binh Duong show that the amount of surface water on Ba Bo canal and Cai stream - Nhum stream - Xuan Truong stream in 2023 tends to decrease slightly compared to 2022. However, at some times, the water quality on these canal systems is still contaminated with organic matter, mainly due to receiving untreated domestic wastewater from households in neighborhoods 11, 16, Binh Hoa ward, Thuan An city; wastewater from households and some small businesses and service units near the dormitory area of ​​Ho Chi Minh City National University.

Meanwhile, the water quality monitoring data of Ba Bo canal of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Ho Chi Minh City in 2023 showed that BOD5 parameters were 75% of locations not meeting the standards, exceeding 1.21-8.23 times; DO parameters were 25% of locations not meeting the standards, exceeding 1.1-2.4 times; COD parameters were 75% of locations not meeting the standards, exceeding 2.31-8.1 times; coliform parameters were 100% of locations not meeting the standards, exceeding 4.68-64.2 times. Surface water quality monitoring results in Cai stream - Nhum stream - Xuan Truong stream were also heavily polluted: COD parameters were 100% of locations not meeting the standards, exceeding 1.6-4.9 times; BOD5 parameters were also 100% of locations not meeting the standards, exceeding 1.8-6.4 times; coliform (100% of locations not meeting the standards, exceeding 28-280 times); e.coli has 100% of locations that do not meet the standards, exceeding the level from 200-5,600 times... In general, the water quality monitoring parameters of the Cai stream - Nhum stream - Xuan Truong stream canal system mostly do not meet the Vietnamese standards (QCVN 08-MT: 2015/BTNMT).

Domestic wastewater in residential areas, Binh Chieu ward, Thu Duc city is discharged directly into Ba Bo canal.

Unable to connect to wastewater treatment

According to Mr. Ngo Quang Su, Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Binh Duong province, although the functional agencies and local authorities have propagated and monitored people not to litter in the canals through organizing movements and activities to clean up the environment on the canals. However, a part of the people still litter in the canals, mainly street vendors and passersby.

On the other hand, domestic wastewater of households in the Ba Bo canal basin has not been fully connected to urban wastewater treatment plants due to difficulties in constructing the connection infrastructure; the construction progress of the Nhum stream drainage project is still slow (only 77% of phase 1 has been completed, phase 2 in the downstream area of ​​the canal with a length of about 250m is currently suspended due to problems with site clearance).

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh My, Deputy Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Ho Chi Minh City, said that to minimize pollution in the drainage system of Cai stream - Nhum stream - Xuan Truong stream basin and Ba Bo canal, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Ho Chi Minh City will strengthen inspection and examination of environmental protection compliance for production and business establishments along the canals; review appropriate public land funds to include in the planning of automatic monitoring stations in the area bordering Binh Duong province.

Mr. VO VAN MINH, Chairman of Binh Duong Provincial People's Committee:

Strengthening monitoring of waste sources

Binh Duong will focus on key solutions such as strengthening inspection and supervision of Song Than 1 and Song Than 2 Industrial Parks and facilities in the industrial parks. Strengthening supervision of wastewater treatment system operations of industrial parks and enterprises with large wastewater flows through automatic monitoring systems, surveillance cameras and automatic sampling equipment.

On the other hand, coordinate with Army Corps 4 to review and identify waste sources arising from the unit's operations, including the treatment and discharge of domestic wastewater of officers and soldiers.

Mr. BUI XUAN CUONG, Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee:

Speed ​​up the construction of wastewater treatment plants

To protect the canal system bordering Binh Duong province, the city assigned the Department of Natural Resources and Environment to continue reviewing sources of discharge into the canal basin; strengthen inspection and supervision of compliance with environmental protection laws for production, service business establishments, and industrial parks discharging waste into this basin; and coordinate with Binh Duong province to handle pollution in the canals.

At the same time, the Department of Construction is assigned to continue implementing the flood prevention and wastewater treatment project in Ho Chi Minh City for the period 2020-2045, including urging to accelerate the construction progress of Bac Saigon 1 wastewater treatment plant; Bac Saigon 2 wastewater treatment plant. The Department of Planning and Investment is assigned to take the lead in promoting investment in the construction of these two wastewater treatment plants.

Ho Chi Minh City and Long An cooperate to handle surface water pollution

In order to proactively and promptly coordinate to resolve the situation of surface water pollution in the border basin between Ho Chi Minh City and Long An province, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee has assigned the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Ho Chi Minh City to coordinate with the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Long An province to develop a plan to strengthen coordination in controlling environmental pollution in the canal area bordering the two localities in the period of 2024-2030.

Accordingly, the two localities strictly control pollution sources, share surface water monitoring data every 2 months at border locations on Thay Cai and An Ha canals, Can Giuoc River, Ben Luc - Cho Dem River; share data from automatic wastewater monitoring stations in industrial parks, clusters and enterprises with large discharge sources to border areas; share inspection results, plans and solutions to completely handle environmental pollution in cases of violations; maintain communication channels via hotlines for timely coordination.

Ho Chi Minh City assigned the Department of Construction to implement the Project on flood prevention and wastewater treatment in Ho Chi Minh City for the period 2020-2045 and the Plan on flood prevention and wastewater treatment for the period 2020-2030. The Department of Planning and Investment presided over and promoted procedures to call for investment in the construction of wastewater treatment plants. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development strengthened the implementation of regulations on management, exploitation and protection of irrigation works for the Thay Cai - An Ha canal section; directed the Irrigation Service Management and Exploitation Company Limited to dredge sediment, collect garbage, treat water hyacinth, weeds and clear the flow for the Thay Cai - An Ha canal section.

The Management Board of Urban Infrastructure Construction Investment Projects speeds up the construction of a centralized urban wastewater collection system and treatment plant in the basin; Cu Chi, Hoc Mon, Binh Chanh districts and Districts 8 and Binh Tan review and update waste sources under their management that discharge wastewater into adjacent basins; increase surprise inspections when there are signs of violations; ensure that 100% of wastewater treatment service production and business establishments meet standards before discharging.

QUOC HUNG

MINH HAI

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/xu-ly-o-nhiem-he-thong-kenh-rach-giap-ranh-cac-dia-phuong-cung-chung-tay-post737961.html