Problems with domestic water supply

11/07/2023 06:17

Expressing dissatisfaction, grievances, condemning the water company, and boycotting them is easy. The hardest part is finding an answer to the question of where to get water for daily life.

"Buying clean water but using dirty water" is the most talked-about and upsetting topic in my neighborhood these past few days.

For the second time in six months, I had to replace the filter and hire a plumber to clean the water tank. After draining the tank, the plumber climbed a ladder, looked down, and exclaimed, "Oh my god!" "Wow, there's so much sediment!" he yelled, looking at me suspiciously. "How long has it been since you last cleaned the tank?"

Meanwhile, I also had to deal with neighbors, grumpy and frustrated, complaining about the tap water being "dirtier than river water." Because of my job, many people believed I could help them solve the problem.

The nightmare of dirty tap water during the rainy season . Photo: HL

To comfort them, and myself as well, I informed them that, according to a representative of the Kon Tum Water Supply Joint Stock Company, the cloudy and sediment-laden tap water supplied to residents could be due to broken pipes during the construction of the water supply pipeline, or due to the periodic flushing of the water storage tanks.

In summary, according to the company representative, the water quality remains within permissible standards. They also acknowledged the public's feedback and will conduct a thorough inspection of the system's operation to ensure water quality.

Of course, my kind neighbors could only listen and (resignedly) accept what I recounted, because they had no other choice.

In fact, the problem of "tap water being dirtier than river water" is not new; it happens every year. Especially during the rainy season, the water's clarity fluctuates from day to day.

There are many questions regarding the quality of drinking water in Kon Tum city. For example, is the drinking water truly clean? What factors can affect water quality? Which agency is responsible for monitoring drinking water quality in Kon Tum, and how is this process carried out?

And unsurprisingly, people find it difficult, if not impossible, to find the answers.

It is noteworthy that, despite suspecting the quality of their drinking water, residents are unable to find any information on water quality from the relevant authorities.

If you go to the Water Supply Company to ask for an explanation, you will receive the same answer: the main water source is the Dak Bla River, and after processing and testing according to regulations, clean water is delivered to the people.

Furthermore, the water treatment process involves a thorough and rigorous chemical testing department at every stage to ensure quality. Regular monthly and quarterly sampling by specialized agencies is also conducted to monitor water quality.

Expressing dissatisfaction, condemning the water company, and boycotting it is easy. The hardest part is finding a solution to the question of where to get water for daily use. Faced with this situation, users have three options to address it.

Not many families can afford to drill wells. Photo: HL

One option is to dig or drill your own well for water, which is, of course, quite expensive; then you'll have to pay extra for electricity to pump the water each month. Another option is to install a water filtration system at the source before the water enters the tank. And the third option is to continue using tap water as before, enduring the inconsistent supply and demand.

At least in my neighborhood, most families have to choose this option!

Broadly speaking, only a small number of families with sufficient economic and other resources decide to invest a significant amount of money in drilling wells.

Some families build their own water filters at home, using charcoal, sand, and gravel to remove organic impurities, dirt, and microorganisms from the water. Alternatively, they buy water filter tanks. However, after only a few months, sediment and dirt accumulate in the filtration system or filter cartridges.

Clearly, in this "game," tap water users are at a disadvantage; you can't just switch suppliers tomorrow because the water is cloudy today.

The question is: Why does the situation of people having to use "dirty water" keep recurring year after year?

Many believe the answer lies in the inadequacies of the current management of domestic water supply. This is due to the lack of specific standards to ensure that all operations adhere to a unified framework, clearly defining the responsibilities of each party involved, and providing a basis for addressing violations when incidents occur.

This limitation resulted in the water treatment plant being in a "one-sided" situation, allowing them to play however they pleased.

To overcome this situation, the quality control of raw water sources used for water treatment plants, the control of water treatment processes, and the water transmission system to ensure the quality of finished water supplied to customers by specialized agencies and state management bodies are particularly important.

Accordingly, authorities must monitor the water source, including regular monitoring and inspection of water quality and the water environment in the river basin and water intake area, while also controlling water treatment processes, treated water, and the distribution network.

For its part, the water supply unit must reinvest in applying information technology and automating equipment operation; control quality at each stage of treatment such as sedimentation, filtration, storage tanks, and distribution networks; and maintain, repair, and replace old pipelines promptly to ensure water quality.

In particular, there needs to be transparency regarding the responsibilities of relevant sectors in controlling the quality of drinking water. The health sector, in particular, needs to effectively monitor compliance with technical standards for clean water used for domestic purposes.

Hong Lam

Source link