Bạc Liêu Province Management Board for Agriculture and Rural Development Projects last Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon tried to use a sewage system to prevent floods in Bạc Liêu City.

The only problem was the sewage system ended up flooding about 100 houses.

The sewer is on the Channel 30-4 in Nhà Mát Ward.

The management board said they were trying to test if the sewers could prevent the tide from the sea entering the city via the Channel 30-4.

Very quickly, it became apparent that the sewage system wasn't up to the task.

Trần Văn Phương, a resident, said the water flooded his house so quick that there was nothing he could do.

Võ Văn Vũ, deputy chairman of the Nhà Mát Ward People’s Committee, on Wednesday afternoon told the Thanh Niên (Young People) newspaper that the case affected residents a lot because most of them lived near the sea.

Local authorities informed residents about the plan beforehand so that they could prepare, but authorities hadn't anticipated what ended up happening.

The sewer has total investment of VNĐ153 billion (US$6.7 million) and its investor is the Bạc Liêu Province Management Board for Agriculture and Rural Development Projects.

It was built to prevent floods and improve the city’s urban environment. Back to the drawing board on that one then. — VNS