ĐỒNG NAI — Residents of the southern Đồng Nai Province’s Tân Phú District complain that at least 50 wells in their locality have been contaminated with petroleum, making the water inedible.

The contamination began two weeks ago, said residents of the district’s Phú Sơn Commune, and has become worse since then. Affected households have been forced to stop using their own well water and are now using water from their neighbours’ homes.

The situation has been reported to local authorities, who are trying to determine the source of the contamination.

Bùi Thị Diệp, a resident, said that in the past 10 days, a strong smell of petrol has been coming from her well, and that the water has a thick layer of oil scum on it. The water is so contaminated with petrol that it can be lit, she said, adding that she is now using water from other homes.

Nguyễn Văn Phi, another resident, said he and his neighbour used the polluted water for a few days, thinking that the problem would get resolved soon, but the contamination is getting worse day by day.

Local people suspect that the contamination is being caused by a leak at a petrol station located on the nearby National Highway 20.

Nguyễn Văn Hướng, chairman of Phú Sơn Commune’s People’s Committee, confirmed that the locality was facing a water contamination issue. The committee has collected water samples and sent them to Tân Phú District’s Office of Natural Resources and Environment for testing. The test results would be shared with residents as soon as they are available, he said. — VNS