Part 1: identifying culprits

Along to Ba Bo canal, there are numerous wastes, especially at Ba Bo canal Regulation Lake adjoining between Thuan An district’s Binh Hoa commune and Thu Duc district’s Binh Chieu ward. At the regulation lake, numerous layers of wastes make strong smell. A question has been raised that why Binh Duong province and HCMC’s leaders’ efforts have yet to solve pollution at this canal.

 

Layers of wastes at Ba Bo canal.

Identifying discharge sources

At the HCMC, the municipal voters reflected serious situation of pollution at Ba Bo canal. Many of them said that the reason of the pollution is from discharge sources of factories in Binh Duong. However, on surveys, this canal receives discharge sources from Binh Chieu ward residential area of Thu Duc district, aside from wastes of residential areas, Song Than 1 and 2 IPs and neighboring companies. Besides, wastes from the 4th Army Corps and the 4th Army Corps Hospital may pour into this canal. Vo Thi Ngoc Hang, vice director of the provincial department of Environment and Natural Resources said that the department would work with the 4th Army Corps and the 4th Army Corps Hospital to specify discharge sources from the two units for the sake of timely improvement. 

Tran Kim Van, vice chairwoman of the provincial People’s Council affirmed “On survey conducted on Nov. 9, we specified 3 main discharge sources pouring into the canal. The first source is from companies in Song Than 1 and 2 IPs and neighboring businesses. The second source is from family and industrial wastes. The third source is from rain water and garbage from residential areas in Binh Hoa commune and Binh Chieu ward residential area of Thu Duc district. It is difficult to control discharge sources from households”. She suggested that the department should cooperate with the HCMC to soon specify discharge sources for timely improvement.

Identifying discharge sources can solve pollution at Ba Bo canal completely. Meanwhile, most of residential areas at the area have no water drainage system. Ngo Trong Nghia, vice chairman of Binh Hoa commune People’s Committee confessed that despite promulgations conducted by local authorities, many people still discharge wastes into the canal stealthily.

Initial efforts

Vo Thi Ngoc Hanh said that the department often worked with the HCMC department of Environment and Natural Resources to increase inspections on water quality. As a result, most of wastes discharged by IPs reached levels allowed. She added, the quality of water at rain water sewers of Song Than 1 and 2 IPs is caught by organic substance exceeding allowed level up to 3.4-7.2 times.

Efforts to control pollution at this canal are remarkable. Song Than 1 IP has upgraded waste water treatment factory from a capacity of 4,000 cubic meters per day and night to 6,500 cubic meters per day and night. Once completion, capacity of waste water treatment at Song Than 1 and 2 IPs will be at 13,000 cubic meters per day and night.

Besides, all businesses in Song Than 1 IP have completed linking with waste water collection system of water treatment factories.

In addition, Thuan An district People’s Committee and Binh Hoa commune People’s Committee held promulgations and delivered leaflets to households along to Ba Bo canal and mobilized them not to pour garbage into the canal. Therefore, local people’s awareness is improved, contributing to minimize pollution at the canal.

Reported by H.Van – Translated by A.C