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Breach in water pipeline affects 70,000 households
  • | VNS | July 22, 2015 07:46 AM

The sole pipeline carrying fresh water from the Da River to the capital city of Hanoi broke again at around noon on Tuesday.
Resources were mobilised to clear the land after the broken Da River water pipeline was repaired on July 12, 2014.

The incident occurred in the section running through Dong Truc Commune in Thach That District.

This is the 11th time the pipeline has ruptured since December 2012, affecting hundreds of thousands of people.

Nguyen Van Ton, General Director of the Fresh Water Supply Company of the Vietnam Construction and Import-Export Corporation (Vinaconex), said the cause of the latest breach was not known.

As soon as the pipe was ruptured, the company mobilised some 100 workers and labourers, four excavators and other machinery to quickly repair the pipe.

"Based on our experience with the previous incidents, we think it is likely that the broken pipeline will be repaired before 1am on Wednesday," Toan said.

Initial estimates indicate that some 70,000 households in Ha Noi will not receive fresh water supplies for a while and will have to resort to other sources.

In order to create a backup in the event of further ruptures in the Da River water pipeline, Vinaconex has started work on a second pipeline. However, the project is progressing at a snail's pace, Tin Tuc (news) reported.

Seven officials were prosecuted on July 14 for their alleged role in causing 10 breaches in the Da River water pipeline since 2008, when the Ha Noi-Da River water project was launched. Vinaconex invested in the VND1.5 trillion ($68.1 million) project, and its affiliate company, the Vinaconex Glass Fibre Reinforced Polyester Pipe Company, supplied the pipes.

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