On March 22, on World Water Day, at the Living Well program, the Organizing Committee donated a saltwater filtration system to people in Khanh Hoa ward (Can Tho City).
The system has a capacity of about 6,000 liters/day, contributing to providing domestic water sources for people in the context of increasing drought and saltwater intrusion in the area.
Ms. Danh Thi Sen (in No Tom hamlet, Khanh Hoa ward, Can Tho city) said that her family once fell into a prolonged water shortage throughout the previous dry season. To have water to use, the family had to stockpile water from the previous rainy season or ask neighbors with pump motors to support. This situation directly affects daily life, from eating to bathing.
Ms. Luong - a household in No Tom hamlet (Khanh Hoa ward, Can Tho city) - said: "Sometimes water is cut off for one day, two days, sometimes it lasts for several days.
To cope, people have to take advantage of rainwater stored in jars for temporary use for daily life, or buy water at increasing costs. "Before, buying one barrel was 10,000 VND, now it's 12,000 VND," she added.
Ms. Luong said that when she heard information about the deployment of free fresh water supply points, people were extremely excited. "Hearing about fresh water tanks is very happy. A stable and easily accessible water source not only helps reduce living costs but also contributes to ensuring a minimum living standard in the dry season," Ms. Luong said.
According to Mr. Phan Van Nghiem - Vice Chairman of Khanh Hoa Ward People's Committee (Can Tho City), the lives of local people mainly depend on aquaculture, while domestic water sources depend on well water and rainwater, so they are often affected by drought and salinity. Some households with conditions have equipped themselves with water purifiers, but many poor households still have to use water that does not meet standards.
Groundwater sources are increasingly contaminated with alum and salt, not ensuring hygiene, affecting people's health," Mr. Nghiem said.
According to Mr. Nghiem, being supported with a water filtration system is considered a practical solution, helping the locality improve the criteria of a civilized city, while ensuring stable clean water supply for people, especially in the dry season.
This is a very meaningful project, which people have been waiting for for a long time," Mr. Nghiem emphasized.
Keppel Vietnam representative, Mr. Lee Leong Seng, said that from 2022 to now, the Living Well program has deployed many water filtration systems in the Mekong Delta region.
To date, the program has supplied clean water to about 157,000 people in 11 communes and wards, with a total capacity of about 24 million liters of water per year.
According to Mr. Lee Leong Seng, saltwater intrusion is becoming a major challenge to water security in the region. The deployment of water filtration systems not only helps improve living conditions but also contributes to protecting public health.
Notably, the water filtration system in Khanh Hoa ward is integrated with solar energy, which can operate even when there is power shortage, helping to ensure stable water supply in difficult conditions.
We expect people to have a safer and more stable source of clean water, especially in the dry season," a representative of Keppel Vietnam shared.
