Big investment, low efficiency

In 2023, over 74 billion VND was invested to implement 2 clean water projects for Thanh Son mountainous commune in Ba Che district (Quang Ninh province), but up to now, 1 project has only been able to supply a small amount of water to a few households; 1 project has not been able to supply water and has continuously broken down.

Khe Long Ngoai village water treatment station, Thanh Son commune (with a total cost of over 60 billion VND). Photo: Nguyen Quy.

In late February 2025, we were present in Thanh Son commune, Ba Che district (Quang Ninh province). The highland commune has now changed a lot with new, spacious roads, giving people the conditions to develop agriculture and forestry in the direction of commodity production.

However, when asked about the source of domestic water, most Thanh Son households sadly shook their heads. Although the commune has 2 projects to provide domestic water, with a total investment of over 74 billion VND, the majority of people still have to use water from streams and streams for daily activities.

Thanh Cong village is one of two villages (including Khe Long Ngoai and Thanh Cong) that benefit from the clean water supply project in Thanh Son commune, but since the project was put into use (October 2023), only a few households in Loong Toong hamlet have water, households from the other side of Loong Toong slope to Thac Lao hamlet have not benefited from clean water from the project.

Pointing to the slope ahead, Mr. Chieu A Sam (Loong Toong hamlet, Thanh Cong village) said: Water from the project only flows to this slope, but it is not enough for the entire Loong Toong community. If there is no water source from the stream, the households will certainly not have enough water for daily activities.

Mr. Chieu A Tai (Thac Lao hamlet, Thanh Cong village) also said: 3-4 years ago, there was a self-flowing water pipe invested by the government, but after a few days, the water stopped flowing. As for the clean water project of the commune, I have not seen it yet. The households here pooled money to buy pipes to bring water from the stream. There were times when the stream water dried up and we had to go down to the stream to carry water for use.

Khe Na water pipe is broken but has not been repaired. Photo: Nguyen Quy.

While many people in Thanh Cong village do not know about the clean water project that they are supposed to benefit from, in Khe Na and Khe Put villages (Thanh Son commune), everyone knows that there is a clean water project. They know clearly because the construction items from dams, water treatment plants, to pipeline and meter installation are all being vigorously implemented. But what they are most looking forward to is the water brought from the project, but it is not yet available. All 120 households in these two villages still have to use water from streams and creeks.

Leading us to the pipeline works and Khe Na water treatment station, Mr. Trieu Quy Long - Deputy Head of Khe Na village, said: I don't know how it was designed, but here they just let the pipeline run along the streams. After just one season of rising water from the Ba Che river, this pipeline was damaged. In fact, right from the time the construction unit started, the villagers had their opinions, but they still did it like that.

At the headquarters of Thanh Son Commune People's Committee, Mr. Nguyen Van Canh - Chairman of the Commune People's Committee said: Through the meetings with voters, the district and commune have recorded the opinions of voters in Khe Na and Khe Put villages about the investment project of over 14 billion VND, but it has not brought about efficiency for the people. The reason is that flood water and the construction of road renovation have damaged many sections of water pipes.

According to Mr. Canh, the clean water project in Khe Na and Khe Put villages has been handed over to the commune, and is still under warranty. The commune has also established operating regulations. After the incident, at the end of 2024, the commune was assigned to be the investor to repair the water pipes damaged by storms and floods. Up to now, the water has reached the treatment station, but the water has not been able to reach the households because the road construction unit has damaged the water pipes and has not yet been repaired.

Regarding the domestic water supply project in Thanh Son commune, the commune leader said: The project has a total cost of over 60 billion VND from the Vietnam National Coal - Mineral Industries Group and the local budget; it has two functions (irrigation and domestic use) for two villages, Khe Long Ngoai and Thanh Cong. However, up to now, the water has only reached Loong Toong hamlet, not Thac Lao hamlet.

As a mountainous district with over 80% ethnic minorities, Ba Che has received attention in recent years for investing in many clean water and centralized water projects, with capital of hundreds of billions of VND. In just one commune like Thanh Son, the two latest projects have invested more than 74 billion VND, but the results have been assessed by the people and commune leaders as very low.

Source: https://daidoanket.vn/du-an-nuoc-sach-cho-xa-vung-cao-tinh-quang-ninh-dau-tu-lon-hieu-qua-thap-10300863.html