High-tech application on water supply management helps ensure water supply to customers. Photo capnuoccholon.com.vn

HÀ NỘI — Improving service quality by promoting the application of high technology and digital transformation in a bid to build a smart water supply system is among key goals of the water supply and drainage industry in the coming years, Standing Vice President of the Vietnam Water Supply and Sewerage Association Trần Anh Tuấn has affirmed.

“Digital transformation is an inevitable trend in Việt Nam,” Tuấn said, “It has improved efficiency with low investment cost. Many water supply enterprises in Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu and Bình Dương provinces and HCM City and Hải Dương City have been implementing digital transformation”.

However, he said, digital transformation at drainage enterprises still faces many difficulties because the investment in building urban drainage systems is not synchronised and many drainage units are not investors of the drainage system but only leased to operate under a service contract.

“Building a unified database and a management software for the whole industry will help synchronously manage the water supply in all steps from water sources, treatment, and distribution of enterprises. This is an issue that needs to focus on in the process of drafting legal documents on the water sector in the coming time,” he said.

In Bình Dương Industrial - Service and Urban Complex, Bình Dương Water and Environment Joint Stock Company (Biwase) has recently put into operation the expanded Tân Hiệp Water Plant with an additional capacity of 100,000 cubic metres per day.

This project has contributed to ensure adequate water supply for Thủ Dầu Một City, Bến Cát Town, Tân Uyên Town and surrounding areas.

New technologies such as inverter technology and soft start for pump units, laminar deposition technology as well as management software on water pressure and quality and water supply partition valve control have helped the company save electricity, reduce labour costs, and ensure water quality.

Nguyễn Văn Triệt, Branch Manager of Tân Hiệp Water Plant said that high-tech operation helps monitoring on cameras and smart phones of operators. Monitoring around the clock will ensure water quality and supply for customers.

Previously, the work required two people to be in charge, but now only one person can handle the job.

In addition, Triệt said the company has encouraged people to change their habits of using electronic payments for their water bill instead of paying in cash.

Customers will be guided to install online payment applications or pay through internet banking.

The application of online payment helps the company manage the cash flow faster, more accurately and safely. Especially, it has saved up to 50 per cent of costs compared to direct collection, he said.

Nguyễn Thị Lan Anh, resident of Phú Hoà Ward, Thủ Dầu Một City in southern Bình Dương Province said she has been receiving notification of electricity and water bills by phone, so she can track the water consumption every month and control her family's water usage.  

“Normally, I pay the bills via the phone app. When there is a water problem, I just need to make a phone call and the problem will be solved one to two hours later,” she said.

Nguyễn Văn Thiền, chairman of the Board of Directors of BIWASE said the company has been gradually automated by accessing and applying new technologies to catch up with the world’s water industry.

The company plans to restructure human resources. The staff operating and repairing equipment will be trained to do customer service to improve the job.

Nguyễn Duy Hùng, General Director of Hòa Bình Clean Water Joint Stock Company in northern Hòa Bình Province said the company has implemented a number of solutions on digital transformation to improve water supply services in Hoà Bình City as well as other districts in the province.

The company has installed pressure control sensor systems throughout the city to ensure water supply for people in remote areas.

According to the national water supply and drainage programme, Việt Nam targets to cover 80 per cent of urban areas with drainage system by 2025. Up to 50 per cent of wastewater in urban areas will be treated properly while 80 per cent in craft villages and 100 per cent in hospitals will be treated.

A view of Tô Lịch River in Hà Nội. The construction of sluices and the main sewer line along the river aims to improve the living environment, natural ecosystem and sanitary conditions in the central urban areas of the river basin. — VNA/VNS Photo Tuấn Anh

To be able to achieve the goals, Standing Vice President of the Vietnam Water Supply and Sewerage Association Tuấn said it is necessary to review urban planning to ensure rooms for water storage and drainage in urban areas and suburban areas in order to control water flows in rainy seasons.

In urban areas, it is necessary to develop natural green areas, which cover at least over 20 per cent of the urban size and build reservoirs while combining appropriate drainage solutions for each basin.

Urban authorities at all levels should pay attention to developing plans for elevation of ground level and water drainage, and management and operation of drainage systems.

He also stressed the building of databases on natural conditions, especially data on rainfall frequency by regions to serve the forecasting of urban drainage systems.

Currently, there is no specialized law on water supply and drainage. In the future, we need to develop laws, he added. — VNS