The World Bank (WB) has said that Vietnam loses about US$780 million per year (equivalent to 1.3% GDP) due to poor sanitation.
Illustrative photo. Waste water being discharged to a river by a company in HCM City. |
By 2012, the three major cities in Vietnam - Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City
and Danang – had 17 urban wastewater drainage and treatment systems,
serving part of the population in the inner areas. The remaining
households still directly discharge wastewater into the environment.
The WB estimated that Vietnam needs up to US$8.3 billion to provide
adequate sewer services to approximately 36 million urban people by
2025.
Given that poor sanitation is causing damage to the economy, according
to the WB, investment in this industry brings about high profit.
Research by the World Health Organisation shows that US$1 investment in
sanitation will provide US$8 of profit for the economy. However, Vietnam
lacks adequate policies to encourage investment in this sector.
Most drainage and wastewater treatment firms do not own the facilities
but they operate these facilities by order of the government, using
state funding. Therefore, these companies cannot develop or seek ways to
optimize the facilities because they have to seek approval from the
superiors for such plans.
This process is time consuming and can affect sewer services. This is
also the reason why these firms are not interested in the benefits from
raising public awareness - who are affected but also are the force major
impact on environmental sanitation.
As recommended by the WB, Vietnam should develop policies to encourage
the model public-private partnership and the participation of the
private sector in the field of environmental sanitation.
Wastewater attacks water resources
The Ho Chi Minh City Institute of Environment and Natural Resources said
that the Saigon - Dong Nai river system as well as the system of canals
in the city are polluted mainly by domestic wastewater, instead of
river industrial wastewater as before.
The amount of wastewater is estimated at 1.2 million m3/day, while the
city has only one urban wastewater treatment plant with a capacity of
150,000 m3/day. This plant always has trouble with technology so the
process of wastewater causes air pollution.
It is expected that Ho Chi Minh City will build 11 wastewater treatment plants.
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