Residents of Loc Ha are worried because the water they watch for is... not clean!

(Baohatinh.vn) - Thousands of households in Loc Ha commune (Ha Tinh province) continue to worry and feel insecure as the water supplied by Thach Bang Water Plant has been cloudy, muddy, and foul-smelling for the past two weeks.

The family of Ms. Pham Thi Chien in Xuan Phuong village is forced to use groundwater for daily life.

Ms. Pham Thi Chien's family in Xuan Phuong village has many members and also runs a beverage business, so their need for clean water is quite high. However, because the clean water supply from Thach Bang Water Plant ( thuộc the Center for Clean Water and Rural Environmental Sanitation in Ha Tinh ) is not guaranteed, for many days now, her family has been forced to revert to using well water.

Ms. Chien complained: “The tap water has a foul, fishy smell, is cloudy yellow, and on many days even contains black sediment. Even after passing through two settling tanks, I still don't dare use it for cooking, making drinks, or daily activities because I'm afraid it will affect the health of my family and customers. We earnestly hope that the relevant authorities, local government, and the water plant will soon inspect and resolve this issue completely so that people can use the water with peace of mind.”

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Luong expressed concern about the presence of mud and dirt in the tap water.

It's not just Ms. Chien's family; hundreds of households in Xuan Phuong village are also struggling to find clean water for daily use. Even during this hot weather, many families have to limit bathing and washing due to the cloudy, dirty tap water, which doesn't meet quality standards.

To obtain drinking water, residents have to use plastic containers to buy spring water, which is both inconvenient and costly. Mr. Nguyen Xuan Luong (Xuan Phuong village) said: “The poor quality of clean water has been going on for 5-6 years now, almost every month there are several incidents, causing great frustration among the people. This particular incident has lasted for more than half a month, making people even more worried. Every time the water changes color or smells bad, we report it to the village and petition the authorities, but the problem has yet to be resolved completely.”

Many households in Xuan Phuong village have turned off the tap water and are using pumped water for their daily needs.

Mr. Nguyen Van Dung, Secretary of the Party Branch of Xuan Phuong village, said: “The quality of clean water is a 'hot' issue that has been of concern to the people for many years. We have repeatedly received and compiled opinions from the people to report to the factory and relevant agencies, but the situation has not improved significantly. This time, the people are reacting very strongly, hoping that the higher authorities and the factory will focus on resolving the issue completely.”

The problem of cloudy and dirty tap water is occurring throughout the villages of Loc Ha commune, with the most serious situation in the downstream areas of Xuan Phuong, Lien Giang, Hoa Thanh, Phu Mau villages and some other places.

Tap water is flushed down the washbasin every morning for the residents of Phu Mau village.

Mr. Tran Dinh Toan (Phu Mau village) expressed his frustration: “The water flowing out is murky like rice paddy water, but the factory still insists that the quality is guaranteed. When we asked for clarification on the cause, the factory claimed it was due to a broken pipe, refusing to acknowledge any operational or treatment issues. This kind of explanation only increases people's suspicion and anxiety.”

Mr. Nguyen Van Thieu, Deputy Head of the Economic Department of Loc Ha Commune People's Committee, said: "According to residents' feedback, the authorities have requested the factory to focus on identifying the cause, rectifying the problem, and establishing a definitive solution. Simultaneously, they are conducting water sample testing to ensure the health and safety of the people. The factory has also committed to implementing measures to improve water quality to better serve customers."

The tap water in Hoa Thanh village is amber in color and contains many impurities.

The Thach Bang water plant has a capacity of approximately 5,000 m³/day, supplying water to nearly 9,000 customers in Loc Ha and Hong Loc communes. Mr. Tu Huu Hanh – Manager of the Thach Bang water plant – said: “The reason for the poor water quality in recent days is that we are currently treating the sedimentation tanks at the plant to improve water quality. During this process, a large amount of accumulated mud and soil flowed into the pipeline system without being completely flushed out, causing turbidity and dirt. We have temporarily stopped water supply for a week to thoroughly clean the pipeline system.”

After completing the cleaning of the filter tanks and flushing the pipelines, we are committed to ensuring a stable improvement in water quality, providing better service to our customers. This situation will not recur in the future."

The tap water contains a lot of sediment, so customers in Phu Mau village don't dare use it for drinking or cooking.

According to local residents, addressing the long-standing problem of poor tap water quality cannot be resolved with mere promises or temporary solutions. This is a pressing social issue, directly affecting people's health and lives, requiring more decisive, coordinated, and transparent action from the water supply company, management agencies, and local authorities.

To ensure that the people of Loc Ha have access to truly clean water, relevant authorities and water treatment plants need to clarify the root causes, focus on addressing existing problems, and establish a mechanism for regular inspection and monitoring to ensure stable and long-term water quality for domestic use.

Source: https://baohatinh.vn/nguoi-dan-loc-ha-bat-an-vi-nuoc-sach-khong-sach-post310613.html