HÀ NỘI — Hà Nội could be hit by water shortages this summer because the Đà River water pipeline No.1 faced risk of re-breaking, while a second pipeline will not be finished by its scheduled deadline, according to city authorities.

The total clean water supply for Hà Nội at present is about 900,000cu.m per 24 hours, and will be able to access about 60,000cu.m more when several plant upgrade projects are finished, according to the municipal Department of Construction.

But in summer, demand for clean water is about 1,020,000cu.m per 24 hours, so the capital will be short of 60,000cu.m each 24 hour period.

A spokesperson of the Hà Nội Department of Construction told the Tiền phong (Vanguard) newspaper that it forecast that water supply would be difficult this summer. Several districts such as Ba Đình, Đống Đa and Hoàn Kiếm could experience water shortages or even temporarily run out entirely.

The clean water pipelines in Hà Nội also faced risk of breaking down.

The Đà River water pipelines are operating at a lower pressure than before, so the capacity of supplying water to the centre of the capital was limited, he said.

The Đà River water pipeline No.2, which was expected to be finished before the end of next month, will now not be completed as scheduled. The department asked clean water plants to set up detailed measures to improve the water supply, he said.

A representative of the Fresh Water Business and Construction Investment Joint Stock Company (VIWACO), which operates the Đà River water pipeline system, said that after the Đà River water pipeline No.1 broke 17 times over recent years, the water has been pumped at a lower pressure than its stated capacity because the company was afraid the pipeline could break again.

The company would set up mini pumping stations as a provisional measure, he said. — VNS