Developing urban domestic water supply

Ensuring the supply of clean water for domestic use through a centralized system is not only a legal responsibility but also an urgent requirement to improve the quality of life for the people and achieve the sustainable development goals of the locality. Therefore, our province has developed and issued the Plan "Development of urban domestic water supply through a centralized water supply system in Son La province, giai đoạn 2026 - 2030".

Currently, the province has 3 urban water supply enterprises, including: Son La Water Supply Joint Stock Company; VBIC Son La Joint Stock Company; and Moc Chau Investment and Construction Joint Stock Company, maintaining the operation of 43 water supply stations. The commercial water output in the first 10 months of 2025 reached approximately 10 million m³, an increase of 7% compared to the same period in 2024.

Employees of Mai Son Waterworks inspect the domestic water supply system in the area.

In particular, last November, the province put into operation the Ban Mong Water Treatment Plant, phase 1 with a total investment of 238 billion VND, a capacity of 10,000 m³/day; the total designed capacity is 27,000 m³/day, making it the largest-scale domestic water supply project in the province. In addition, Son La Water Supply Joint Stock Company is implementing the Chieng Dong Water Treatment Plant Project with a total investment of 230 billion VND.

In the first 10 months of 2025, the percentage of urban population supplied with clean water through centralized water supply systems reached 93.98%, calculated within the recognized urban area, ensuring stable water supply for over 68,800 customer households, including urban and surrounding areas, an increase of 1,800 households compared to 2024; the forecast for the end of 2025 is estimated to reach 94%, an increase of 0.8% compared to 2020. However, this rate is only achieved when defined within the recognized urban area.

Implementing a two-tiered local government model, Son La province has 8 wards: To Hieu, Chieng Coi, Chieng Sinh, Chieng An, Thao Nguyen, Moc Chau, Moc Son, and Van Son. Specifically, Chieng Coi ward merged the entire natural area and population of Hua La and Chieng Co communes; Chieng Sinh ward merged the entire natural area and population of Chieng Ngan commune; Chieng An ward merged the entire natural area and population of Chieng Xom and Chieng Den communes; and Moc Chau ward merged the entire natural area and population of Chieng Hac commune.

The Ban Mong water treatment plant, phase 1, has a total investment of 238 billion VND and a capacity of 10,000 m³/day.

Furthermore, according to Clause 5, Article 26 of Government Decree No. 178/2025/ND-CP dated July 1, 2025, detailing some provisions of the Law on Urban and Rural Planning, our province has 8 towns, including Thuan Chau, Mai Son, Yen Chau, Phu Yen, Bac Yen, Muong La, Quynh Nhai, Song Ma, and the former administrative center of Sop Cop district, which were previously recognized as urban areas by competent authorities. Now, having been converted into communes, they are still considered urban areas. Thus, the scope and scale of urban population in Son La province have expanded significantly, while the urban water supply system and network have not been invested in at a comparable and synchronized pace, leading to a sharp decrease in the percentage of urban population supplied with clean water through centralized systems. If timely solutions are not proposed and implemented, the targets set forth in Decision No. 1676/QD-TTg dated December 25, 2023, of the Prime Minister and the Resolution of the 16th Congress of the Son La Provincial Party Committee, term 2025-2030, may not be achieved.

Given the practical demands, the development and promulgation of the "Plan for the Development of Urban Domestic Water Supply through Centralized Water Supply Systems in Son La Province, 2026-2030" is essential and urgent, aiming to improve the quality of life for the people, ensure urban development goals, and make a significant contribution to the sustainable development of the province.

To date, the province is determining the needs and capital structure for investment projects to provide clean water to planned residential areas, existing residential areas without centralized water supply systems, and solutions for areas with existing water supply units but lacking comprehensive network coverage. The province proposes the state's investment responsibilities and the attraction of non-state investment according to regulations, striving to achieve the goal of having 96% or more of the urban population in Son La province supplied with clean water through centralized water supply systems by 2030.

The projected investment capital structure for the minimum total investment required to achieve the goal of developing urban domestic water supply through a centralized water supply system in Son La province during the 2026-2030 period is approximately over 3,000 billion VND. Of this, state capital accounts for over 382 billion VND; non-state capital and attracted investment account for over 2,649 billion VND. Multiple sources of capital can be used in the same project, with project management governed by current laws. In cases where a project proposes using state capital but attracts investor interest, priority should be given to non-state capital to save budget and prioritize implementation under programs, schemes, and projects funded by central government agencies.

Staff of Son La Water Supply Joint Stock Company inspect the water source.

According to the plan, the focus will be on synchronously addressing three key aspects of the water supply system: Construction and renovation of water sources and treatment plants, ensuring a stable raw water supply and standardized treatment processes; construction of regulating structures and booster pump stations to ensure stable water distribution and overcome localized water shortages during peak hours or in areas far from the city center; and development of the water supply pipeline network, prioritizing expansion to new urban areas and hotspots of water scarcity. Key urban areas identified for immediate investment include the newly established wards of Chiềng Cơi, Chiềng An, Chiềng Sinh, Mộc Châu, Mộc Sơn, Thảo Nguyên, Vân Sơn, and urban centers such as Ít Ong town in the former Mường La district.

The issuance of the Plan for the Development of Urban Domestic Water Supply through a Centralized System by the People's Committee of Son La Province is a strategic step, demonstrating the determination to definitively solve the urban clean water problem. At the same time, it contributes to achieving the goal of 96% of the urban population having access to clean water by 2030, creating a solid foundation for sustainable and safe urban development and comprehensively improving the quality of life for the people.

Source: https://baosonla.vn/xa-hoi/phat-trien-cap-nuoc-sinh-hoat-do-thi-XIt9ffZDg.html