Bringing clean water to remote areas.

BAC NINH - Bai Loi village in Bao Dai commune (Bac Ninh province) is home to the Nung ethnic minority, who make up 98% of the population. For many years, due to its distance from the main clean water supply system, the villagers thought that having clean water in their village was a distant dream. But today, clean water has truly reached every household, bringing joy to the entire village.

This time of year, the people of Bai Loi village are busy harvesting their winter crops, delighted by the bountiful harvest and good prices for their vegetables. Agricultural products such as chili peppers, cucumbers, and green beans are all selling at high prices, bringing significant income to the growers. The joy of the villagers is doubled now that clean water has reached the village.

Ms. Ly Thi Hien was delighted to have access to clean water.

Having just sold her chili peppers for nearly 100,000 VND/kg, Ms. Ly Thi Hien, a villager, shared: “My family has had access to clean water for almost a week now, and we feel very relieved. Thank you to the authorities and departments for their concern in ensuring that the villagers have a reliable water source.”

Then, Ms. Hien took out the aluminum basin that used to hold well water. The basin, once bright white, had turned a dull yellow, and the clothes washed in it were stained yellow due to iron contamination in the water. Although they knew the water source was unsafe, the villagers still had to use it because they had no other choice. Now that they have clean water, that worry is gone.

The clean water supply is regulated from a water source located more than 10 km from Bai Loi village.

Similarly, previously, Mr. La Van Minh's household had to buy bottled water for daily use. Mr. Minh shared: "My family uses about ten bottles of water each month for cooking and drinking. Well water is only used for watering plants and washing clothes. As soon as the village announced the plan to bring clean water to households, I immediately registered to have a meter and pipes installed, eagerly awaiting the water supply every day. Now that we have clean water, my family has reduced our water costs and has a reliable water source. The water pressure is high, and it remains stable even when delivered to the upper floors, making it very convenient to use."

According to Mr. Le Van Trong, head of Bai Loi village, the village has over 300 households, and to date, 154 households have access to clean water. In recent years, the villagers' lives have improved thanks to crop cultivation and, to some extent, overseas labor. However, the biggest concern remains the pollution of their drinking water. Even the village head's family has to ask for water from their neighbors because the water from their well is contaminated with limestone and iron, making it unusable for daily life.

Recognizing the crucial role of water in the health of every villager, the hamlet held a meeting to discuss solutions and unanimously agreed to submit a request for clean water supply. Mr. Le Van Trong, head of Bai Loi hamlet, recalled: “When we submitted the request to the water supply company, we didn’t think it would be approved because the hamlet is located more than 10 km from the main water source, and the population is scattered and not concentrated. Investing in clean water for the hamlet would take a very long time for the business to recoup its investment. However, thanks to the attention of all levels of government, especially Bac Giang Clean Water Joint Stock Company, the hamlet’s dream of having access to clean water has become a reality.”

The Doi Ngo Water Supply Enterprise is making efforts to bring water to Bai Loi village.

To bring clean, fresh water to the village, according to a representative of the Doi Ngo Water Supply Enterprise (Luc Nam commune), a subsidiary of Bac Giang Clean Water Joint Stock Company, the unit surveyed, researched, and developed a plan to invest in expanding the water supply system. After nearly two months of construction, equipment installation, and pipeline construction, clean water has officially reached the village. Currently, the enterprise's capacity reaches over 3,200/3,500 m³/day, supplying thousands of households in Luc Nam commune and surrounding areas. Mr. Nguyen Manh Ha, the Enterprise Manager, said: "If we consider profit, it would take a long time for the unit to recover its investment in mountainous areas, but this is a solution to ensure the well-being and health of the people, so we always strive our best. In the future, the unit will continue to assess needs and base its actions on the actual situation for some households in remote areas far from roads."

It is known that the Resolution of the First Congress of the Bac Ninh Provincial Party Committee, term 2025-2030, aims to achieve a rate of 96.4% of people using clean water meeting standards by 2030 (100% in urban areas and 93.8% in rural areas). By overcoming difficulties and bringing water to remote areas, water supply units will contribute to increasing the percentage of people using clean water, gradually fulfilling the target set by the Provincial Party Committee's Resolution.

Text and photos: Truong Son

Source: https://baobacninhtv.vn/dua-nuoc-sach-ve-noi-xa-postid436321.bbg