Vietnam needs up to 10.2 billion USD for the development of water supply and drainage systems. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam needs upto 10.2 billion USD for the development of water supply and drainage systems tokeep up with urban population growth by 2020.
According to the Ministry of Construction’sAdministration of Technical Infrastructure, the country has approximately 800urban areas, requiring 7.4 million cu.m of clean water per day, a 1.6-foldincrease from a decade ago. The figure is forecast to rise to 9.6 – 10 millioncu.m daily as the urban population is likely to hit 44 million people by 2020.
The Administration of TechnicalInfrastructure estimated that urban areas will need 3.3 billion USD to buildnew clean water treatment plants and renovate existing ones while another 6.9billion USD should be invested in wastewater treatment projects in the nextfive years.
The capital city of Hanoi and Ho Chi MinhCity lead the country in the tap water leakage rate, exceeding 30 percent,since their pipeline systems have become old and broken. HCM City has more than2,000 km of water pipelines, which have been in use for over half a century.But it is short of funds to replace such a huge system as it will affect alarge number of residential areas and buildings.
The Government aims to give all urbanpopulation access to at least 120 litres of clean water per day by 2020. Tothis end, each city or province must construct 2-3 new tap water plants withdesigned capacity of 100,000 cu.m per day and night each, according to theVietnam Water Supply and Sewage Association (VWSA).
The 2-percent annual growth rate of urbanpopulation is posing the biggest challenge to the water industry, increasing theburden on the country to seek investment for clean water projects, said VWSAPresident Cao Lai Quang.
There has been very little involvement ofprivate companies in such projects, he noted, adding that the government shouldencourage private investment from both domestic and foreign firms.
He also urged the government to adoptincentives to lure private investment into the sector and provide skilled humanresources in the field.-VNA
