Worry about pollution threatening livelihoods in residential areas
"It smells so foul, I can't smell it, it's even more miserable when it's sunny" - Ms. Nguyen Thi Van (Group 4, Gia Sang Ward) just said, pointing to the thick black stream right next to her house. The water flowed sideways, giving off a strong, foul smell, and a little stench into the house, causing her family and many surrounding households to always close their doors.
According to Ms. Van, Dong Gianh stream is the main source of drinking water for farming of the people. More than 10 years ago, the water here was clear, with a lot of shrimp and fish and was used by the people to wash the dishes, wash vegetables, and grow crops.
As time passed, the water gradually changed color, turned black, the stench rose all year round, and shrimp and fish were gradually destroyed. According to Ms. Van, during the storm in October, the water was available again for a few days, but just a few days later, the black color and the fishy smell returned to the usual way.
People's cultivation depends almost entirely on stream water, but everyone is worried because they do not know what is in it. If not watered, the vegetables withered, the trees died, the soil cracked, and if watered, people were worried about pollution.
"We know that the water is not guaranteed but we still have to use it because there is no other source. If we don't water, the plants will die, but if we use them, we will suffer from illness, but now we don't know what to do" - Ms. Van added.
Located not far away, Mr. Nguyen Van Thinh (character's name has been changed, Phan Dinh Phung ward) is also suffering from polluted streams. Every time it rains heavily, water floods into the fields, dragging in garbage, damaging crops and crops.
Mr. Thinh said that prolonged pollution has disrupted the lives of people around the stream. According to him, many households still use well water for daily activities but the water pumped up also has a foul smell, not daring to cook or bathe due to concerns about affecting their health.
"We have repeatedly petitioned, hoping that the government will soon take drastic measures to reduce people's suffering. If I live like this all the time, I will suffer a lot, the smell will be on my stomach, and I will be at risk of illness, I will suffer without knowing who to complain to" - Mr. Thinh said.
Finding a solution
According to the reporter of Lao Dong Newspaper in early November 2025, the water in Dong Gianh stream was black, scum-filled, and household waste and nylon bags were stagnant in many areas along both banks. Many streams of waste are piled up, swollen, water flows slowly, and gives off a strong smell.
Following the stream, the black, foaming water with garbage flows through Gia Sang ward and then flows directly into the Cau river, posing a potential risk of water pollution. According to research, the main cause is domestic wastewater, garbage from residential areas and some surrounding facilities dumped directly into the stream, causing stagnation and odor for a long time.
Talking to reporters, a leader of Phan Dinh Phung Ward People's Committee said that Dong Gianh stream originates from the ward, then flows through Gia Sang ward. Recently, pollution has had a certain impact on the environment and people's lives.
According to this person, the locality will coordinate with specialized units to review and assess the current situation to report to the province for consideration of solutions. In the immediate future, the ward will continue to strengthen propaganda and mobilize people to maintain hygiene in the area along the stream.
In the coming time, based on the direction of competent authorities, the locality will gradually implement appropriate solutions to improve pollution, in order to ensure the environment for people on both sides of the stream.
While waiting for the renovation plan to be implemented, people in the area still have to live next to the polluted stream. The stench and thick black water that have existed for many years continue to affect the lives and production of households along both sides of the stream.
