Bac Ninh: Restoring the underground drainage system to the urban area.

In many streets in the area north of the Cau River in Bac Ninh province, efforts are being made to clear the space behind rows of houses, restoring the shared technical infrastructure corridor, creating conditions for dredging and clearing the drainage system, and improving fire safety.

Blockages of underground drainage channels.

For many years, the area behind rows of houses in most residential areas has been misused. Numerous households have arbitrarily built boundary walls, blocked gates, erected shelters for parking, planted trees, and raised livestock, turning this area into their "private backyard." These seemingly minor actions have obscured and narrowed the drainage system, hindering inspection, maintenance, and dredging efforts.

Authorities are demolishing structures that encroach on urban technical infrastructure corridors.

When blockages occur, workers cannot access the sewer to open the manhole covers and bring in tools and equipment to address the problem. A small blockage can last for days, causing wastewater to stagnate, generating foul odors, creating unsanitary conditions, and increasing the risk of localized flooding during heavy rains.

Mr. Nguyen Van Them, a resident of Nenh Ward, shared: "Previously, we used the land behind our houses to park motorbikes, place potted plants, and some even erected temporary shelters. During the rainy season, wastewater would overflow, causing a persistent foul odor, and workers couldn't access the area for repairs. After the demolition, the entire row of houses is much more spacious, and we realize how important it is to maintain the shared infrastructure."

In response to this situation, on March 6, 2026, the People's Committee of Bac Ninh province issued Document No. 1935/UBND-KTN, requesting the wards in the area north of the Cau River to urgently inspect, handle, and clean up the area behind the two rows of houses on each street. Vice Chairman of the People's Committee Pham Van Thinh requested that localities report clearly on the progress and reasons for the delay in implementation, and also instructed the press to intensify propaganda efforts to ensure that people understand, agree with, and participate in the implementation.

The infrastructure behind the houses is being illegally occupied and used by residents for their own purposes.

Following the provincial directive, the Department of Construction assigned the Center for Drainage and Wastewater Treatment to coordinate, guide, supervise, and inspect local authorities. On June 1, 2026, the Center issued a document requesting the People's Committee of Bac Giang Ward and the People's Committees of other wards and communes in the area north of Cau River to cooperate in clearing debris and facilitating the dredging and clearing of the drainage system. The Center determined that dredging would only be carried out in locations that had been cleared, ensuring access, labor safety, and suitable conditions for construction.

A highlight of decisiveness and humanity.

During the implementation process, Nenh Ward was one of the localities with a decisive, systematic, and effective approach. From the end of 2025, the ward issued a plan, organized campaigns, and established a task force directly led by the ward leader, with the participation of the police, military , mass organizations, and neighborhood committees. Before the demolition, the ward sent notices to each household, conducted direct persuasion, and disseminated information through the local broadcasting system.

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Thanks to effective community outreach, most households have voluntarily dismantled illegal structures and belongings. Many awnings, sheds, livestock pens, and piles of waste in the My Dien, Phuc Long, Ninh Khanh, and Yen Ninh areas have been cleared. The space behind the two rows of houses has become more open and airy, facilitating inspection, maintenance, and dredging of the drainage system.

Ms. Tran Thi Tham, a resident of My Dien 2 area, said: "Initially, we felt bad about wasting the time and money, but when we saw that the whole area was cleaner and the water drained better after the rain, we understood that this was necessary. Now, people are voluntarily keeping things clean and no longer carelessly dump garbage or leave things lying around like before."

A highlight of this process is the proactive, thorough, and decisive role of the Bac Ninh Provincial Drainage and Wastewater Treatment Center. Beyond its professional duties of maintenance and dredging, the Center has proactively advised, guided, urged, and coordinated with local authorities to address the root causes of long-standing bottlenecks in the operation of urban drainage systems.

Under the direction of Mr. Nguyen Tien Tung, Director of the Bac Ninh Provincial Drainage and Wastewater Treatment Center, the professional team closely monitored the site, inspecting each sewer line, each ditch section, and each location that was obstructed or encroached upon; from there, they proposed solutions to clear the obstructions and facilitate dredging and clearing the waterways. It is noteworthy that this approach does not stop at addressing the problem after flooding has occurred, but shifts strongly towards a preventative mindset, proactively detecting and addressing the causes of blockages at the grassroots level.

Mr. Nguyen Tien Tung stated: "Previously, some blockages took 3 to 4 days to resolve due to difficult access, requiring negotiation and persuasion with each household. With the technical corridor cleared, many locations can be resolved in just one day. Maintenance productivity and efficiency have increased significantly."

According to Mr. Tung, urban flood control cannot rely solely on large-scale projects, main sewer lines, or drainage pumping stations. Instead, it must begin with concrete, persistent daily actions, such as keeping each drainage ditch, each manhole cover, and each access point behind residential areas clear. If these "underground channels" are blocked, the drainage system will struggle to operate effectively, especially given the increasing frequency of heavy and extreme rainfall.

“We are not only clearing the area for dredging, but also want to change perceptions. Every household needs to understand that protecting the technical infrastructure space behind their house is protecting their living environment, property, and safety, as well as that of the community. The center will coordinate with local authorities to work persistently, decisively, and successfully to gradually eliminate the image of flooding every time it rains,” Mr. Nguyen Tien Tung emphasized.

Community spirit is key to sustainability.

From practical implementation, the mark of the unit leaders responsible for this work is evident not only in the directives and dredging plans, but also in their willingness to take on difficult tasks and address long-standing urban problems. With a hands-on approach and a commitment to action, the Drainage and Wastewater Treatment Center is gradually shifting from a passive to a proactive, preventative approach, from addressing individual blockages to clearing the entire system, and from purely technical maintenance to partnering with local authorities in restoring order to urban infrastructure.

The reality after the clearance operations has shown clear effectiveness. When the waterways are cleared, the foul odor is reduced, drainage capacity is improved, and the risk of localized blockages and flooding is decreased. Many residents, after witnessing the practical results, have expressed their support.

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Mr. Hoang Minh Khanh, a service business owner in the Ninh Khanh area, said: "Previously, storing things behind the house might have been a little convenient, but when it flooded, the damage was much greater. Now the residential area is cleaner and more airy, and visitors also find it more pleasant. This is a civilized and sustainable approach."

Local forces are coordinating efforts to persuade residents to dismantle structures encroaching on urban technical corridors in Nenh ward.

Clearing the space behind the two rows of houses is only the first step. More importantly, it's crucial to maintain the results after the clearance, preventing re-encroachment and ensuring that the newly cleared access routes are not blocked again. This requires the continuous involvement of local authorities, neighborhood committees, law enforcement agencies, and the self-awareness of each household.

With decisive leadership from the province, proactive efforts from the Drainage and Wastewater Treatment Center, and increasing public support, Bac Ninh is gradually restoring the free flow of urban "underground drainage systems." A civilized city is not only beautiful on the facade, but must also be clean, well-ventilated, and safe, from the technical spaces behind each building.

Source: https://daibieunhandan.vn/bac-ninh-tra-lai-mach-ngam-thoat-nuoc-cho-do-thi-10419278.html