The water situation at Bung Binh canal, the section passing through Thanh Duc ward, is polluted with abnormally changed colors and a strong stench. People said this situation has appeared more frequently since 2025.
Ms. Nguyen Hong Chi - owner of a lime production facility right at the Bung Binh bridge slope, said that whenever the water dries up, water from the sewer flows out into the canal, changing color every day, sometimes green, red, purple or yellow. The family has repeatedly complained to the local authorities since 2025, but the situation has not been completely resolved.
What Ms. Chi is most worried about is the water source directly affecting production. To make lime, the family has to pump water into the pond, but if the water is colored and smelly, the entire batch of lime may be damaged.
If you want to produce, you have to pump water into the pond. If you pump water with color and smell, a whole batch of lime will be damaged. Sometimes goods are delivered to customers urgently, but you still have to wait for the water to be clear," Ms. Chi said.
Ms. Bui Thi Thanh Phuong Thao - a worker at the lime kiln, said that the work is already heavy, and now workers also have to endure a strong stench on hot sunny days. Ms. Thao hopes that functional agencies will soon identify the cause and thoroughly handle the pollution situation, so that people and workers can feel secure in working and living in a healthy environment.
Localities plan dredging, increase monitoring of discharge sources
Talking to Lao Dong Newspaper, Mr. Vo Van Ngoan - Deputy Director of Vinh Long Department of Agriculture and Environment confirmed that through surveys, functional agencies recorded that water from public sewers poured into Bung Binh canal is dark black, accompanied by a foul odor as people reflected.
According to Mr. Ngoan, the Department has chaired and coordinated with Thanh Duc Ward People's Committee to survey and verify the current status of Bung Binh canal and the public surface drainage culvert of National Highway 57. At the time of the survey at 4:30 PM on August 6th, water from the culvert was flowing into the canal, with a dark black color, while the water in Bung Binh canal had a yellow alluvial color.
Through actual surveys, it has not been determined which facilities discharge waste causing water to change color and smell," Mr. Ngoan said. The National Highway 57 culvert has many households, production and business establishments connected, of which about 9 establishments discharge production wastewater into public culverts.
Mr. Ngoan said that on August 13, the Department of Agriculture and Environment issued Report No. 1841/BC-SNN&MT reporting to the Provincial People's Committee on the current status of wastewater at Bung Binh canal. On the same day, the Provincial People's Committee issued Official Dispatch No. 11932/UBND-KTN directing the handling of the case.
In the coming time, the Department will preside over and coordinate with the Provincial Police and Thanh Duc Ward People's Committee to review 9 production facilities, inspect facilities showing signs of violations of waste discharge and strictly handle them according to regulations. At the same time, propagate to people not to litter directly into sewers and canals," Mr. Ngoan said.
We also propose that the Provincial Police direct professional forces and Ward Police to strengthen professional skills, monitor and scout to detect and catch red-handed acts of illegal discharge and dumping, thereby strictly handling violations," Mr. Ngoan emphasized.
