Hundreds of households are "thirsty" for clean water.

Struggling due to a lack of clean water…

Leading us to see firsthand the practically nonexistent water pipes in many households in Nguyet Ang village, the village head, Nguyen Dai Tan, said that the lack of clean water has been a problem in the village for many years. The clean water supply to households is intermittent; for many days now, residents have had no access to clean water at all, forcing many families to buy water.

When we arrived, Mrs. Tu Thi Duat, from Nguyet Ang village, was struggling to adjust the water pump, but no water came out even after a long wait. According to Mrs. Duat, for many days, her family has been without clean water, relying entirely on well water for daily activities and having to buy drinking water. “Although we have a clean water pipeline installed, for many years we have always lived in a state of water shortage. The water supply is intermittent, sometimes completely cut off. It's scorching hot, but there's no water to use, it's very difficult. At night, my husband and I take turns pumping water, and sometimes we pump for ages without any water, only to find the pump burned out in the morning,” Mrs. Duat explained.

The lack of clean water has been a problem for many years in Nguyet Ang village, Tan Ninh commune.

According to Mr. Nguyen Dai Tan, the village currently has 450 households, and the majority of them have been living without access to clean water for many years. The clean water pipeline system, which was installed many years ago, is now dilapidated.

Since 2020, the water supply has been unstable, with frequent and prolonged water shortages. During peak periods, water flows in a trickle, and in recent days, there has been virtually no clean water available. Every household in the village has a water storage tank with pipes connecting to the roof to collect rainwater. Every family has to use a vacuum pump to draw water, and they can only do so at night. Even when water is available, they have to pump all night just to get a small amount for use. Since the beginning of the dry season, many households have had to replace 2-3 pumps because there was no water available.

In other localities, people only pay for the water itself, but in Nguyet Ang village, residents have to pay for water according to regulations and also bear the additional cost of electricity when using water pumps. Currently, many households in the village have to pump well water for daily use, but the water source is contaminated with alum and is not hygienic. Without clean water, people have to buy bottled water for drinking and cooking.

“For many days, my family has been without water. There’s no tap water, no well, so my family can only buy water. It’s scorching hot, and with no water, we have to use it sparingly. There’s no greater hardship than this…,” said a resident of Nguyet Ang village.

Many families live far from the main pipeline system, and their high elevation means that clean water has been completely unavailable for extended periods, causing considerable frustration among residents. "Without clean water, my family has to pump water from the irrigation ditch into our house for washing clothes, bathing, and even rinsing vegetables for cooking," shared Ms. Tu Thi Chung from Nguyet Ang village.

Due to a lack of clean water, Mrs. Tu Thi Duat, from Nguyet Ang village, has to buy bottled water for drinking and cooking.

Mr. Nguyen Dai Tan stated that the intermittent supply of clean water has been a long-standing problem in Nguyet Ang village for many years. The villagers have complained and raised the issue at numerous meetings, but have only received promises and no effective solutions. In the coming period, with the prolonged hot weather, the lack of water will significantly impact the lives of the people.

Chairman of Tan Ninh Commune People's Committee, Nguyen Van Hoan, said: “Currently, all villages in Tan Ninh commune have had new pipeline systems installed, except for Nguyet Ang village which is still using old, dilapidated pipelines, resulting in unstable water supply to households. The commune has worked with Quang Binh Water Supply Joint Stock Company on this issue, and the company has agreed to replace the water supply pipeline to Nguyet Ang village in the near future.”

It will be fixed soon.

According to Le Anh Dung, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Quang Binh Water Supply Joint Stock Company, in recent years, the company has invested in replacing old water pipelines in many localities in Quang Ninh district. However, in Nguyet Ang village, Tan Ninh commune, the water system is still using old pipelines, making water regulation difficult, especially during peak hours and in areas with high elevations.

Explaining this issue, Mr. Dung said that the unit is responsible for supplying water to a large area, and the demand for clean water is increasing, while the current water supply conditions are difficult and therefore cannot meet the needs of the people.

After understanding the concerns of the residents of Nguyet Ang village, the company conducted a survey and worked with the People's Committee of the commune, completing the necessary paperwork to implement the construction of a water pipeline to the households as soon as possible. In principle, any investment or construction project in the area requires local consent, so the company has prepared the necessary documents, including drawings of the route and boundaries, and completed the design and construction plans. Once the local authorities have worked with the residents and received their consent, the company will begin implementation.

"The company plans to invest in a main water pipeline system for the entire Nguyet Ang village, with a length of approximately 4,000 meters, and aims to complete it in the second quarter of 2025," Mr. Dung said.