Development of urban water supply

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

Mai Son Water Enterprise staff check the domestic water supply system in the area.

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

In the first 10 months of 2025, the proportion of urban population supplied with clean water through the centralized water supply system reached 93.98%, calculated according to the recognized urban area, ensuring stable water supply for over 68,800 households, including urban and neighboring areas, an increase of 1,800 households compared to 2024; it is forecasted that by the end of 2025 it will reach 94%, an increase of 0.8% compared to 2020. However, this rate is only achieved when determined within the recognized urban area.

Implementing the 2-level local government model, Son La province has 8 wards including: To Hieu, Chieng Coi, Chieng Sinh, Chieng An, Thao Nguyen, Moc Chau, Moc Son, Van Son. Of which, Chieng Coi ward merged the entire natural area and population of Hua La commune and Chieng Co commune; 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 commune and Chieng Den commune; Moc Chau ward merged the entire natural area and population of Chieng Hac commune.

Ban Mong Water Plant, phase 1 put into operation with a total investment of 238 billion VND, capacity of 10,000 m³/day and night.

In addition, according to Clause 5, Article 26, Decree No. 178/2025/ND-CP dated July 1, 2025 of the Government detailing a number of articles 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 Sop Cop District Administrative Center, which were previously urban areas recognized by competent authorities, but now converted into communes, are still considered urban areas. Thus, the scope and scale of urban population in Son La province have been significantly expanded, while the urban water supply system and network have not been invested in a timely and synchronous manner, leading to a sharp decrease in the proportion of urban population supplied with clean water through the centralized system. If timely solutions are not proposed and implemented, it may not be possible to achieve the targets set out in Decision No. 1676/QD-TTg dated December 25, 2023 of the Prime Minister and Resolution of the 16th Son La Provincial Party Congress, term 2025-2030.

Faced with practical requirements, the development and promulgation of the Plan "Development of urban domestic water supply through the centralized water supply system in Son La province, period 2026 - 2030" is very necessary and urgent, aiming to improve the quality of people's lives, ensure urban development goals, and make important contributions to the sustainable development of the province.

Up to now, the province is determining the needs and capital structure for investment projects to supply clean water to planned residential areas, existing residential areas without centralized water supply works and water supply solutions for areas that already have water supply units but have not been invested in to cover the network. Proposing the state's investment responsibilities, attracting non-state investment according to regulations, striving to complete the target by 2030, the urban population target to be supplied with clean water through the centralized water supply system in Son La province reaches 96% or more.

The estimated total investment capital requirement to implement the goal of developing urban water supply through the centralized water supply system in Son La province in the period of 2026-2030 is about over 3,000 billion VND. Of which, state capital is over 382 billion VND; non-state capital, attracting investment is over 2,649 billion VND. It is possible to use multiple capital sources in the same project, project management is in accordance with current legal regulations. In case the project proposes to use state capital for investment but if there are interested investors, priority should be given to implementation with non-state capital to save the budget and priority should be given to implementation according to the Program, project, project granted by the Central agency.

Staff of Son La Water Supply Joint Stock Company check water source

Also according to the Plan, the focus will be on synchronously handling three important stages of the water supply system, including: Construction, renovation of water sources and treatment plants, ensuring stable raw water sources and standard treatment processes. Construction of air-conditioning works, booster pumping stations, helping to distribute water stably, overcoming local water shortages during peak hours or in areas far from the center. Development of water supply pipeline network, prioritizing network expansion to new urban areas and hot spots of water shortage. Key urban areas identified in need of immediate investment include newly established wards: Chieng Coi, Chieng An, Chieng Sinh, Moc Chau, Moc Son, Thao Nguyen, Van Son and urban centers such as It Ong town, old Muong La district.

The issuance of the Urban Water Supply Development Plan through the centralized system by the People's Committee of Son La province is a strategic step, demonstrating the determination to completely solve the problem of clean water in urban areas. At the same time, it contributes to completing 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 comprehensive improvement of people's quality of life.

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