Water Loss Rate in Vietnam Biggest City Remains at 28%: Sawaco

Authorities in Vietnam’s southern metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City have said that the tap water leakage rate in the city remains high, hitting around 28%, causing a loss worth more than $130,000 per day. Statistics by Saigon Water Corporation (Sawaco) showed that around 556,000 cubic meters of tap water run to waste every day though the ratio of leaked water fell from 41% seven years ago. The company said at a meeting with the municipal authorities on Sept 7 that it will upgrade pipeline system to bring the rate down to 25% by 2020. Deputy CEO of Sawaco Bui Thanh Giang said it is short of fund to replace the pipeline system, which has become old and broken at many parts. He noted that more than 150 kilometers of water pipelines or half of the system in the city downtown, have been in use for 80 years. Big cities like Hanoi posts the same leakage rate, attributing the situation to outdated pipelines and poor infrastructure system. Meanwhile, the ratio in the neighboring province of Binh Duong is about 8%. (Thanhnien.com.vn Sept 9)