The people of Ta Van are "thirsty" for clean water!

Amidst the scorching early summer heat, in Ta Van commune, the issue of water shortage has become a constant nightmare for hundreds of households. Water tanks have dried up, and taps have been silent for months, disrupting the lives of the residents. Behind this situation lies the unresolved conflict over water resources between production and domestic needs.

Struggling due to lack of clean water.

For months now, Ms. Nong Thi Kim and many other households in Ta Van Day 2 village have been busy asking for water from households that still have reserves. Ms. Kim shared that since before the Lunar New Year, her family has had almost no stable water supply. There's only enough water for cooking, and they have to ration every drop for bathing and washing.

To obtain water for daily use, Mrs. Nong Thi Kim asks for it from other households in the village.

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It's not just Mrs. Kim's family; hundreds of households in Ta Van Day 1 and Ta Van Day 2 villages are in a similar situation.

Water tanks are empty, water meters have stopped turning, and the taps from the domestic water supply system haven't had a single drop of water for days.

The water reservoir supplying clean water to over 200 households in Ta Van is completely dry!

The water meter and pipe systems have been out of operation for a long time.

Mr. Vang Van Lui, from Ta Van Day 1 village, Ta Van commune, said that the prolonged water shortage has seriously disrupted his family's life.

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In the scorching heat of the highlands, the lack of clean water not only causes inconvenience but also directly affects the health, environmental hygiene, and lives of the people.

Not only local residents, but also households involved in community-based tourism services in Ta Van are struggling due to a lack of clean water. In recent years, Ta Van has become an attractive destination for tourists thanks to its natural landscapes and the unique cultural identity of its ethnic minority communities. Many households have invested in homestays and guesthouses to develop their economy through tourism. However, the lack of clean water is becoming a major obstacle. Many households are concerned that if this situation continues, the image of local tourism will be affected, especially during the peak summer season.

Ta Van is currently in its peak tourist season, and tourism service businesses in Ta Van are facing many difficulties due to a shortage of clean water.

Ms. Ly Thi Nguyet, a homestay business owner in Ta Van Day 2 village, said that the amount of water used each day is very large, while the water supply has been almost completely interrupted.

For a locality like Ta Van, which is oriented towards developing community-based tourism, the lack of essential infrastructure, especially clean water, is becoming an urgent problem that needs to be addressed soon.

Water resource disputes during the hot season.

According to our investigation, the water supply project in Ta Van commune was constructed in 2018 to provide water to nearly 200 households, several schools, and public areas. After completion, the project was handed over to a private enterprise for management and operation. However, in recent years, especially during the dry season, the project has frequently faced water shortages at the source.

The water supply system leading to the reservoir of the Ta Van domestic water supply project is no longer operational due to the depletion of water sources at the source.

According to Mr. Giàng A Lềnh, the official in charge of managing the water supply system in Tả Van commune, the main cause has been identified as the decrease in water flow during the dry season. In addition, many households have arbitrarily built dams upstream of the main dam to divert water for agricultural production, causing a serious shortage of water flowing to the water supply system.

The dispute over water resources between agricultural production and domestic needs has been ongoing for many years. Despite repeated efforts by local authorities and the project management unit to mediate, no consensus has been reached.

Many households draw water from upstream sources for agricultural production, resulting in insufficient water supply for domestic water use.

According to Mr. Vu Minh Nghia, a technical officer at Lao Cai Water Supply Service Company Limited, the unit had previously proposed a plan to share water resources based on usage time, but it had not received the agreement of households upstream.

In reality, the need for water for agricultural production is entirely legitimate, especially during the period when crops require irrigation. However, drinking water is also an essential need for the people. When water resources are scarce, the lack of a rational allocation solution can easily lead to conflicts within the community.

More concerning is that prolonged water shortages can lead to numerous negative consequences for health, the environment, security, and public order at the facility.

As the hot season approaches, the shortage of clean water for daily use is becoming increasingly severe in Ta Van commune.

According to local residents, what they most want right now is for the authorities to quickly intervene and find fundamental solutions to ensure a stable supply of drinking water.

The immediate challenge is not only to encourage people to share water resources, but also to consider long-term solutions such as upgrading water supply infrastructure, expanding water storage systems, finding new sources of water, or establishing regulations for rational water use between domestic and industrial purposes.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/nguoi-dan-ta-van-khat-nuoc-sinh-hoat-post899567.html