HCM CITY – The HCM City People’s Committee has instructed the Sài Gòn Water Supply Corporation (Sawaco) to upgrade and build water pumping stations and install water pipes to supply to households in the outlying districts of Bình Tân, Bình Chánh and Hóc Môn.

Sawaco will completely upgrade 23 existing pumping stations and build six new ones in the three districts by the end of next year, bringing water to many households that have yet to get water.

The total cost, which also includes installation of meters in such households, will be VNĐ290 billion (US$13.1 million).

The city People’s Committee has announced plans to supply water to all households in the city by the end of this year, and the city will supply water to an additional 228,665 households in outlying districts this year, increasing the number of the households getting water to 1.9 million.

Officials from the People’s Committee and other relevant departments in April surveyed the situation in Củ Chi, Bình Chánh, Hóc Môn and District 12.

In Củ Chi only 31 per cent of households get tap water, the lowest rate in the city.

The district People’s Committee attributed the low rate to many people still preferring to use bore wells though their areas have access to tap water.

In Hóc Môn, slightly more than half of the 86,432 households get tap water, according to the local People’s Committee.

At a meeting with Hóc Môn authorities and the general director of Sawaco on May 19, Secretary of the city Party Committee, Đinh La Thăng, told the Sawaco chief that everyone in the city should be provided water by the end of this year.

"Everyone living in the city can buy water at the same price," he said.

Now people who do not have a permanent or temporary residence registration have to pay a higher price. – VNS