The Anaerobic/Anoxic Oxic Process (AAO)-equipped station, transferred by the Advanced International Jointstock Company (AIC), is able to treat 4,000 cu.m. of wastewater a day and night.

This ecological engineering technology is a common process used by municipal wastewater treatment plants in Europe and North America for nitrogen and phosphorous removal.

If showing positive results after a 6 month test-run in the Cho Ray hospital, the technology will be applied to other hospitals across the country, said officials at the technological transfer ceremony.

Minister of Health Nguyen Quoc Trieu and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Pham Khoi Nguyen highlighted an urgent need to build hospital wastewater treatment systems in the interest of the environment.

The Cho Ray Hospital Director Nguyen Truong Son said the upgrading of the hospital’s obsolete wastewater treatment system has great significance for the environment.

“Hospital wastewater contains a high density of pathogenic micro-organisms and pollutants to underground water sources,” said the medical expert.

The Cho Ray hospital discharges between 2,000 and 2,500 cu. m. of wastewater every day, accounting for one-seventh of the city’s total hospital wastewater volume.

(VietnamPlus, 30/11/2009)