However, there is a paradox that even when water is the most abundant, we are wasting the most fresh water. And in the context of climate change, increased drought in the Mekong Delta, and decreased groundwater reserves in major cities, continuing to waste fresh water is not only a carelessness, but also an irresponsibility to the future.
According to World Bank data, the average water loss rate in urban areas of Vietnam is still over 20%, in some places up to 30-35%. That is, every 100m3 of clean water that is treated and pumped out, more than 20-30m3 is leaked and lost before reaching consumers.
Those numbers are not uncommon. In Ho Chi Minh City, every sunny season, many areas still have to alternate water supply due to degraded networks. Meanwhile, it is not difficult to see public water pipes broken, public water tanks leaking all day and night. Many households still have the habit of releasing water continuously when washing their vehicles, watering plants, and cleaning their houses without any awareness that they are releasing away valuable resources.
Notably, groundwater resources in many large urban areas are seriously degraded due to over- exploitation. Ho Chi Minh City still has hundreds of thousands of households and production facilities using untreated groundwater. Meanwhile, the process of recovering the groundwater layer takes decades - a process that cannot be easily reversed.
At the international level, many experts warn: Clean water will become "green gold" in the future. For a country like Vietnam, with a population of over 100 million people and a rapid urbanization rate, maintaining water security is a key factor for sustainable development.
One of the underlying causes of water waste in Vietnam is the mentality of considering water as endless resources, free or too cheap. Domestic water prices in large cities are still low compared to many countries in the region. That causes many people to waste water.
Meanwhile, water supply enterprises are having difficulty investing in modern infrastructure to reduce loss rates, but the revenue is not enough to cover expenses. Paradox: The more water is sold, the more losses are existing in some units.
It is time for a national strategy on saving and protecting water resources with goals such as urban areas setting a goal of reducing the water loss rate to below 15% within the next 5-7 years. Apply a smart water meter to control leaks in the water supply network. Review activities that cause waste of water in urban management: Washing roads, watering trees, public hygiene...; raising water prices appropriately in the direction of properly reflecting the value of resources, having policies to support the poor, but not encouraging wasteful consumption. In particular, it is necessary to include water saving in the community education program, building a culture of responsible water consumption.
fresh water is not an endless resource. A drop of clean water flowing out of the tap today is the result of a complex and costly treatment chain. If we do not change our thinking and actions right now, the price that we and the next generation will pay will still be very expensive.
