Public funds vital for clean water

Difficulties in calling for foreign help make it difficult for residents in rural and isolated areas to enjoy filtered and clean water, experts have said.
Public funds vital for clean water ảnh 1Children of the Raglai ethnic group in central Ninh Thuan province wash their hands with clean water. (Photo:VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) - Difficulties incalling for foreign help make it difficult for residents in rural and isolatedareas to enjoy filtered and clean water, experts have said.

Residentsin rural and isolated areas are those most in need of filtered water, but it isdifficult to call for foreign investment in developing water supplies for thoseareas, said Luong Van Anh, Director of the National Centre for Rural WaterSupply and Sanitation (NCERWASS).

Itis essential to attract investment from enterprises to increase the number ofclean water supply constructions for these areas, he said at a conferenceon developing plans for clean water supply for rural areas on May 5.

Atthe conference, Do Tien Thanh, director of the water resource managementdepartment under the Water Resource Directorate, said it is a national targetto provide filtered water for 95 percent of the population and clean water for55 percent by 2020.

Thanhstressed the importance of support from the government’s budget and capitalfrom society, as well as funds from international organisations to reaching thetarget. He requested commercial banks to offer preferential loan interest ratesto private enterprises.

Inaddition, it is important to improve the water supply system withenvironmentally-friendly technologies such as combining renewable energies withelectricity, as well as to increase usage of automatic water quality operationand control applications, he added.

Waterquality should be examined regularly, and smaller water supply stations shouldbe developed for new urban areas, he said.

Climatechange is threatening water resources from upstream and preventing residents inrural areas from accessing the resources during natural disasters, requiring anew approach to clean water supply for these areas, said Deputy Minister of Agricultureand Rural Development Hoang Van Thang.

Waterpollution is getting worse in mountainous areas and Central Highlands due topoor water resource management, which requires detailed analysis and solutions,he said.

Filteredwater has been provided to some 87.5 percent of the population last year, ofwhich 49 percent has enjoyed water that qualified for the national technicalstandards for domestic water, regulated by the Ministry of Health.

Upto 100 percent of citizens in Da Nang city, HCM City, Dong Nai and Ba Ria-VungTau provinces have enjoyed filtered water.-VNA
VNA

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