Details were released at aconference in Hanoi on Feb. 10 reviewing the project “ CapacityBuilding in Assessing and Managing Water Resources in Vietnam ”(CAPAS), which was carried out in seven provinces in Vietnam .
Afterthe project’s initial success, Belgium has decided to extend it tomany other areas throughout the country this year.
MartinJunker, the Belgian-funded CAPAS project’s chief advisor, said that theproject aims to draw up an action plan to protect water resources,especially underground water reserves.
During 2012, it will support the seven previously targeted provinces to improve their monitoring and recording procedures.
Subsequently, each locality will be provided with the necessaryequipment to assess levels of water pollution and identify the causes.
Meanwhile, Belgium will assist Vietnam when it launches a campaign toincrease the public’s awareness of the harmful affects of waterpollution through a series of seminars and public events in response toWorld Water Day (Mar. 22).
Scientists say that mostpeople in Vietnam use untreated surface water and the increasingpollution to both surface and underground water reserves has made itessential for proper methods of treatment to be applied to ensure cleanwater supplies for local people./.