Vietnam Expects to Bring Safe Water to 95% of Population by 2025

Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has approved a national program on ensuring the supply of safe water with a goal to bring safe water to at least 95% of population by 2025. The goal partly aims to manage risks and problems from water resources, water treatment facilities, and water pipeline, improving living conditions and protecting people’s health. By 2025, the safe water supply system will cover 50% of rural areas and the rate of untreated wastewater in urban areas will be cut to 70%. To reach the goals, state agencies need to issue regulations on the supply of safe water as well as the management, exploitation, use, and protection of water resources. State officials said that the government should offer investment incentives to encourage the application of modern technologies in water supply. According to a national environment report released in 2015 by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, about 84.5% of population accessed to safe water in 2014 compared to 32% in 1998. In the same year, there were 84.5% of people in rural areas getting access to safe water. The southeast area topped the regions with 94.5%, followed by the Red river delta 91%, and Mekong delta with 88%. (Lao Dong – Labor Aug 16, VnEconomy.vn Aug 15)