Its water is only slightly polluted and much safer than that of the Sai Gon river, he said, pointing out the city can save on chemicals required to treat the latter.
The Tan Hiep Water Treatment Plant, the main treatment plant for the Sai Gon river water, required more than 846 tonnes of chlorine costing VND9.3 billion (US$520,000) to treat the water in 2008 and 447 tonnes in the first six months this year.
Besides, the Sai Gon Water Corporation (Sawaco) pays billions of dong each year for letting water from the same lake flow into the river to reduce its salt content. With the Sai Gon River expected to become even more polluted, this cost is likely to double.
The HCM City People’s Committee has approved Binh’s proposal to build a plant with a daily capacity of 1.02 million cubic metres to treat water in the Dau Tieng Lake’s Chinh Dong Canal. The water will then be sold to the Tan Hiep Water Treatment Plant to increase the city supply.
The plan, to cost VND7.5 trillion ($420 million), has been sent to the Ministry of Construction for approval, the Sai Gon-Dau Tieng Water Supply Joint Stock Company said.
Once finished, the project would supply water to not only the Tan Hiep Water Treatment Plant but also the Dong Canal Water Plant and the second and third phases of the Sai Gon River Water Treatment Plant, it said.
If the project is approved, the Hoa Phu Pumping Station that now supplies the Tan Hiep Water Treatment Plant would become a backup station.
Binh also urged authorities to consider using water from the Tri An Lake to satisfy the demands of southern Dong Nai, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, and Long An Provinces.
V.N.S