Recently, Hanoi has officially opened a water discharge valve after treatment from the West Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant to Sen Lake, thereby supplementing the water source for West Lake and improving the flow of To Lich River.
This is considered one of the important items to improve the quality of the water environment, reduce pollution and restore the ecosystem on the river about 14.6 km long in the capital.
On September 1, according to Lao Dong, the mossy blue water from West Lake was led to an underground pipeline system of more than 1.5km long to the upstream of To Lich River, Hoang Quoc Viet road section.
This not only contributes to eliminating the stench that has existed for many years, but is also expected to significantly change the quality of water and the landscape along the river.
Along with the completion of the pipeline, the infrastructure on both sides of the river has also been renovated. Sidewalks and railings have been repaired, and riverbank waste has been cleaned up.
On the upstream section, people leisurely release fishing rods - an image that has been rare for many years in the To Lich River.
Along the river, most of the domestic wastewater has been collected into the sewer system built on both banks. However, when the wastewater rises, there will still be a phenomenon of overflowing into the river.
People living around this area shared that thanks to the amount of water added from West Lake in recent days combined with heavy rain, the river has become greener, significantly reducing the strong stench.
Mr. Bui Chi Thang - a resident living next to To Lich River - shared: "We hope that from now on, there will be no more garbage crammed into the riverbed. If the ecosystem is restored, people around the area will be able to breathe cleaner air."
Mr. Tran Van Tien - Deputy Director of the Hanoi Agricultural and Technical Infrastructure Construction Investment Project Management Board - said that the city has completed the connection of 62/63 wastewater discharge gates along both sides of the To Lich River to the Yen Xa Wastewater Treatment Plant.
The remaining spillway due to land clearance problems will be handled when the dam at Quang bridge is completed. Workers are constructing the final items in this area.
At the same time, Yen Xa Wastewater Treatment Plant has increased its capacity to 230,000m3/day and night, capable of receiving and treating all the wastewater collected along the river. This is considered a key factor to maintain the river's revival, avoiding re-pollusion.
Previously, the leaders of Hanoi City requested that the water replenishment process from West Lake must strictly control hydrological conditions, not causing negative impacts on the lake's ecological environment.
The goal is to have a new flow by the occasion of National Day, September 2, the To Lich River will no longer be a dead river.
The addition of West Lake water to To Lich River not only has technical significance in environmental treatment but also an effort to restore the historical and cultural values long-standing with the people of Hanoi.
When the river is revived, the living space, urban landscape and people's belief in a green - clean - beautiful capital are also gradually strengthened.
