Clarify the price of clean water in Dak Lak increases abnormally

Water price increases, poor service quality

In November 2002, the People's Committee of Dak Lak Province issued Decision No. 2653/QD -UBND, approving the roadmap to adjust the retail price of clean water for daily -life clean water of Dak Lak Water Supply Joint Stock Company (Dakwaco) for the period 2023 - 2025.

According to this roadmap, the price of domestic water increased by 15% in 2023; Accumulated increased by 35% by 2024 and reached 60% by 2025.

In the approved price structure, the cost of buying commercial water and raw water accounts for about 8.3% of the total production costs.

From 2023 to the end of 2024, Dakwaco signed a contract to buy water with Buon Ma Thuot Water Supply Co., Ltd. and Dat Ly Water Supply Joint Stock Company.

Under the contract, Dakwaco signed with Buon Ma Thuot Water Supply Co., Ltd. (valid from 2019 to 2038) pledged to buy 15,000m³/day.

However, Mr. Le Quoc Nam - Director of this company said: "In 2024, Dakwaco only bought about 100m³/day, much lower than 7,140m³/day in the price structure.

"The small amount of purchase helps Dakwaco reduce costs because it does not have to take into account 8.3% of the cost of buying outside water. However, in the opposite direction, people have to buy water at a constant price," Mr. Le Quoc Nam added.

The same situation occurs for Dat Ly Water Supply Joint Stock Company. The representative of this company said Dakwaco only signed a contract to buy water with the unit for 6 months (from the end of 2023 to June 6.2024).

However, during this time, the amount of Dakwaco water bought was very limited, even some months did not buy.

Meanwhile, many people in Buon Ma Thuot city are annoyed by the situation of continuous water prices but increasing but the quality of service is increasing.

According to research, currently, Dakwaco is the main water supply unit for Buon Ma Thuot city, with an output of about 50,000m³/day.

Mr. Le Quang Trung, residing in Ea Tu commune, Buon Ma Thuot city, reflected that in the past few days, the water of his life in his house has often been trophy for unknown reasons. The service is poor but the price of water is too high.

In 2023, on average, he only paid about 75,000 VND each month. However, in March 2025, water invoices have increased to nearly 150,000 VND, doubling compared to before, while the amount of water used is constant.

"I ask the authorities to comprehensively check Dakwaco to clarify the water price calculation mechanism to ensure the rights of the people," Trung said.

Will check, review

According to the audited financial statements, Dakwaco's profit after tax in 2023 was more than VND 15 billion. By 2024, it increased to nearly 51 billion dong - an increase of 240% in just one year.

The source of the Labor Newspaper confirmed that the People's Committee of Dak Lak province issued Decision No. 12/2025/QD-UBND stipulating the assignment of state management tasks on prices and valuation in the area.

Accordingly, the provincial People's Committee has assigned the Department of Construction to appraise the price plan for clean water in urban areas and industrial parks.

According to the research, the Department of Construction is reviewing and evaluating the plan of clean water price in the province to advise and replace the decision of the provincial People's Committee issued on specifying the price of clean water.

For Dakwaco's incurred expenses that have not been made up of the domestic water price, the Department of Construction will be considered and included in the prescribed price structure.