The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the State Bank of Vietnam on May 27 signed two loan agreements totalling 198 million USD to improve clean water access for residents in Ho Chi Minh City.

Of the total, 138 million USD will be used to cover the cost of a project aiming to reduce water losses, increase water supply networks and enhance the performance of Saigon Water Supply Corporation.

The project was expected to benefit over half of a million residents in HCM City and connect almost 20,000 families for the first time to piped water, contributing to the goal of increasing the city’s piped water coverage from 82 percent to 95 percent by 2050.

The project will also help to reduce water losses in the city from 40 percent to 25 percent by 2050.

Meanwhile, a 60 million USD loan provides supplementary financing to Phuc Hoa Water Resources Project, prepared in 2003 to supply water for agricultural, domestic, municipal and industrial uses, and, at the same time, develop management skills for State oversight agencies and community water user groups./.