Authorities in Hanoi have agreed to build 10 kilometres of water pipelines to bring water from the Da River to the capital city to alleviate serious water shortages in some areas across the city.

Workers repair a broken water pipe along Hanoi's Lang-Hoa Lac Highway. A plan to build 10 kilometres of new pipes has been approved to help ease water shortages in the city.

At a meeting with water supply companies on Tuesday, Vice Chairman of the committee Nguyen Quoc Hung told the Vinaconex Clean Water JSC to begin construction in June.

It would be the second pipeline from the Da River to the city.

Last week, many people in Thanh Xuan, Tay Ho, Hoang Mai and Ha Dong districts were without fresh tap water for at least three days. With temperatures reaching up to 39 degrees Celcius, people reportedly queued to buy water at a high cost.

The reason for the shortage, according to one representative from the company, was substandard water pipes that were failing to deliver fresh water. The pipes were running at the highest pressure level and could break if the pressure increased to supply more water to the city.

The construction of a second pipeline would help solve the problem, he said. The new water pipes would be built from Hoa Lac to Tich River, while the city would support the interest rate of the loan to the company.

Hung also asked the company to set up three spots to directly supply fresh water in Dai Kim Ward, Bui Xuong Trach Street and Giai Phong Road.

The company was requested to urgently build a pipeline to Ton That Tung Street to supply water to households in Dinh Cong Ward.

He asked the Hanoi Clean Water One Member Co,Ltd to tap into underground water to support the company in supplying fresh water to residents in Cau Giay and Dong Da districts.

The Hanoi Clean Water Company is also said to be purchasing about 50,000 cubic metres of water per day from the Da River to supply to these two districts. However, the amount was falling by 10,000 cubic metres per day, causing water loss in some certain areas.

The Da River water pipeline was put into use in 1997 and had been broken on six separate occasions. Tens of thousands of households suffered water shortages for days on each occasion.