Decision No. 2140/QD-TTg dated November 08, 2016 of the Prime Minister on approving the master plan on water supply in the Mekong delta region through 2030, with a vision toward 2050

DECISION

Approving the master plan on water supply in the Mekong delta region through 2030, with a vision toward 2050[1]

THE PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the June 19, 2015 Law on Organization of the Government;

Pursuant to the June 18, 2014 Law on Construction;

Pursuant to the June 17, 2009 Law on Urban Planning;

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 44/2015/ND-CP of May 6, 2015, detailing a number of contents on construction planning;

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 117/2007/ND-CP of July 11, 2007, on clean water production, supply and consumption, and the Government’s Decree No. 124/2011/ND-CP of December 28, 2011, amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Government’s Decree No. 117/2007/ND-CP;

At the proposal of the Minister of Construction,

DECIDES:

Article 1.To approve the master plan on water supply in the Mekong delta region through 2030, with a vision toward 2050, with the following major contents:

1. Scope and subjects

- The scope of planning covers the entire administrative territory of the Mekong delta region with a total natural area of around 40,604.7 km², comprising Can Tho city and 12 provinces of Long An, Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Dong Thap, Vinh Long, Tra Vinh, Hau Giang, An Giang, Soc Trang, Kien Giang, Bac Lieu and Ca Mau;

- Objects of planning: Centralized water supply systems of the inter-provincial region, urban areas, industrial parks and concentrated rural residential areas.

2. Viewpoints

- To conform with the master plan on socio-economic development and the master plan on construction of the Mekong delta region; Vietnam’s development orientations for water supply for urban areas and industrial parks to 2025, with a vision toward 2050, and other relevant specialized master plans.

- To ensure reasonable and economical exploitation and use of water sources adaptable to climate change, inundation, flooding, sea level rise and saltwater intrusion; to prioritize the use of surface water for gradual substitution of ground water sources;

- To manage and develop stable and sustainable water supply on the basis of optimizing resources; to encourage economic sectors to invest in the construction, management and operation of water supply systems.

- To exploit, produce and supply clean water regardless of administrative boundaries.

3. Objectives

- To concretize water supply orientations set out in the master plan on construction of the Mekong delta region through 2030, with a vision toward 2050, and in the master plan on socio-economic development of the Mekong delta region to 2020.

- To identify water demand and capacity to exploit water sources; water supply solutions, plans on construction of inter-provincial and urban water supply works in each planning period; and development orientations for water supply for concentrated rural residential areas.

- To improve water supply service quality, to ensure safe water supply; to gradually modernize clean water control, production and business systems.

4. Planning contents:

a/ Specific targets:

- By 2020: 90-100% of inhabitants in urban areas of grade III or higher grades will have access to clean water; the rate will be respectively 90-95% for inhabitants in urban areas of grades IV and V; 25% of inhabitants in concentrated rural residential areas will use clean water from inter-provincial and urban water supply systems; the rate of clean water loss and water charge loss will decrease to an average of 18%.

- By 2025: 95-100% of urban inhabitants will have access to clean water; 30% of inhabitants in concentrated rural residential areas will use clean water from inter-provincial and urban water supply systems; the rate of clean water loss and water charge loss will decrease to an average of 15%.

+ By 2030: 98-100% of urban inhabitants will have access to clean water; 35% of inhabitants in rural concentrated residential areas will use clean water from inter-provincial and urban water supply systems; the rate of clean water loss and water charge loss will decrease to an average of below 12%.

b/ Water supply standards

Water supply standards must comply with current technical regulations and design standards.

- By 2020:

+ For urban areas of grade III or higher grades, the water supply standard will be 100-130 liters/person/day.

+ For urban areas of grades IV and V, the water supply standard will be 100-110 liters/person/day.

+ For industrial parks, the water supply standard will be around 25-40 m³/ha/day.

+ For concentrated rural residential and suburban areas, the water supply standard will be 80 liters/person/day.

- By 2025:

+ For urban areas of grade III or higher grades, the water supply standard will be 110-150 liters/person/day.

+ For urban areas of grades IV and V, the water supply standard will be 110-125 liters/person/day.

+ For industrial parks, the water supply standard will be around 25-40 m³/ha/day.

+ For concentrated rural residential and suburban areas, the water supply standard will be 90 liters/person/day.

- By 2030:

+ For urban areas of grade III or higher grades, the water supply standard will be 120-160 liters/person/day.

+ For urban areas of grades IV and V, the water supply standard will be 120-130 liters/person/day.

+ For industrial parks, the water supply standard will be 25-40 m³/ha/day.

+ For concentrated rural residential and suburban areas, the water supply standard will be 100 liters/person/day.

c/ Water demand forecast:

- By 2020: The total water demand will reach around 1,970,000 m³/day, of which:

+ The water demand in urban areas will reach around 1,100,000 m³/day.

+ The water demand in concentrated rural areas will reach around 550,000 m³/day.

+ The water demand of industries will reach around 320,000 m³/day.

- By 2025: The total water demand will reach around 2,650,000 m³/day, of which:

+ The water demand in urban areas will reach around 1,510,000 m³/day.

+ The water demand in concentrated rural areas will reach around 660,000 m³/day.

+ The water demand of industries will reach around 480,000 m³/day.

- By 2030: The total water demand will reach around 3,270,000 m³/day, of which:

+ The water demand in urban areas will reach around 1,890,000 m³/day.

+ The water demand in concentrated rural areas will reach around 750,000 m³/day.

+ The water demand of industries will reach around 630,000 m³/day.

d/ Water supply zoning:

- On the basis of terrain conditions, water sources, conditions of and orientations for regional space development, water demand and water supply development requirements according to each planning period, the Mekong delta region shall be divided into three water supply zones:

+ Zone I - Northern Tien River: Covering Long An and Tien Giang provinces and part of Dong Thap province.

+ Zone II - Between Tien River and Hau River: Covering Ben Tre, Vinh Long and Tra Vinh provinces and part of Dong Thap province.

+ Zone III - Southwestern Hau River: Covering Can Tho city and An Giang, Kien Giang, Hau Giang, Soc Trang, Bac Lieu and Ca Mau provinces.

- Based on water source conditions, water supply zones shall be further divided into areas with advantaged, less advantaged and disadvantaged water sources as a basis for selection of appropriate water supply solutions.

+ Areas with advantaged water sources include Dong Thap and An Giang provinces; and part of Can Tho city.

+ Areas with less advantaged water sources include Long An and Tien Giang provinces; and part of Vinh Long and Can Tho city.

+ Areas with disadvantaged water sources include Ben Tre, Hau Giang, Soc Trang, Bac Lieu, Ca Mau, Kien Giang and Tra Vinh provinces; and part of Vinh Long province.

dd/ Water sources:

- Surface water sources: To prioritize the exploitation and use of surface water sources from Tien and Hau rivers to serve daily-life and production needs. To build water quality monitoring systems and early warning systems to monitor and control water quality status and promptly adopt solutions to cope with contamination and saltwater intrusion. Under the conditions of response to climate change and saltwater intrusion, to apply the solution of exploitation and transmission of raw water, ensuring efficiency as well as quality of water sources in accordance with regulations and meeting sustainability requirements.

- Groundwater sources: To review and assess the exploitation and use of groundwater sources; to explore and assess the quality, reserves and exploitation capacity of water sources by province and specific area. To incrementally reduce the exploitation of medium- and large-sized groundwater sources in areas with advantaged surface water sources or with inter-provincial water supply systems; for scattered and small residential areas, to use groundwater sources to supply water for daily life activities until having access to other favorable water sources.

- Rainwater sources: To review and exploit local land areas for building reservoirs for rainwater storage and addition of water sources for existing water plants, preventing saltwater intrusion; in the long term, to build multi-purpose large reservoirs in combination with irrigation systems to supply water for daily-life and production activities.

e/ Water plant systems in the Mekong delta region:

In the context of climate change and saltwater intrusion, to adopt the solution of water supply for the Mekong delta region which combines inter-provincial water plants with provincial water plants in a manner suitable to water source conditions of each area.

- Inter-provincial water plants:

To build 5 inter-provincial water plants connected with inter-provincial pipeline networks to supply water for areas affected by saltwater intrusion or disadvantaged in water sources. The capacity and scope of water supply of inter-provincial water plants shall be expanded based on water demand, climate change scenario and saltwater intrusion in each planning period, specifically:

(*) The capacity of each plant will be determined to conform with saltwater intrusion developments.

Provincial/municipal water plants:

+ For areas with advantaged water sources (with good reserves and quality and not being affected by saltwater intrusion): To continue using water from existing water plants; to expand or build water plants under local water supply development master plans and plans.

+ For areas with less advantaged water sources (with limited reserves and occasionally affected by saltwater intrusion): To renovate and upgrade existing water plants by building reservoirs and dams to store water during the saltwater intrusion season or build pump stations to transmit raw water; to meet increasing water supply development requirements in each planning period, to expand water pipeline networks and connect to and use water sources from inter-provincial water plants. For rural residential areas that are not yet connected to inter-provincial water plants and currently use groundwater sources, to control the quality and reserves of those groundwater sources to meet sustainability requirements.

+ For areas with disadvantaged water sources (salinized water sources): To expand water pipeline networks and connect to and use water sources from inter-provincial water plants; for small urban centers and rural residential areas not yet connected to inter-provincial water plants, to upgrade scattered existing water plants or build new ones using appropriate brackish and saltwater treatment technologies.

+ For island districts: To invest in constructing reservoirs and dams to create water sources for existing or new water plants; for residential areas, to apply appropriate brackish and saltwater treatment technologies.

- To store and use rainwater for public works, agencies and households to meet their daily life and other needs.

g/ Water treatment technologies:

- Applicable clean water treatment technologies must match the capacity of water plants, composition and properties of raw water sources; the quality of post-treatment water must reach quality standards for drinking and residential activities.

- For inter-provincial large-capacity water plants, to use advanced and environment-friendly water treatment technologies adaptable to climate change; for small water plants, to apply traditional water treatment technologies which shall be incrementally renovated to match the management and operation capacity of water supply units.

- To study and apply brackish and saltwater treatment technologies to supply water for islands and residential areas with salinized water sources or not connected to inter-provincial water plants.

h/ Water pipeline networks:

Water pipeline networks in the Mekong delta region shall be expanded in conformity with the scope of water supply zones in each planning period:

+ The inter-provincial pipeline network will transmit clean water from inter-provincial water plants to localities, urban areas and residential areas. Inter-provincial pipelines with a diameter of DN600-DN1800 mm shall be constructed suitable to the size of water plants in each planning period and connected in a circular network by 2030, ensuring water supply security. At points connecting inter-provincial pipelines with distribution pipelines for urban areas and residential areas, to arrange clean water tanks to store and regulate water sources and secure water supply.

(See the list of inter-provincial clean water transmission pipeline routes in Appendix I to this Decision,not translated).

+ Distribution pipeline networks and water supply services in urban and residential areas of the provinces and city shall be built, upgraded or expanded meeting water supply development requirements; and connected with provincial water plants or inter-provincial clean water pipeline routes.

i/ Booster pump stations:

To arrange booster pump stations on inter-provincial pipeline routes with an average distance of 30-40 km apart, to ensure sufficient water flow to the points connected with water pipeline systems for urban and residential areas. The locations, sizes and capacity of booster pump stations shall be specified in the stage of investment project formulation.

(See the list of booster pump stations on inter-provincial transmission pipeline routes in Appendix II to this Decision,not translated)

k/ Assurance of water supply security:

- To prioritize the use of locally made advanced, durable and energy-efficient supplies and equipment suitable to saltwater intrusion conditions for inter-provincial water supply systems; to increasingly apply information technology to control and operate water supply systems.

- To adopt and implement water supply security plans for inter-provincial and provincial water supply systems to ensure constant, stable and sufficient supply of quality water in accordance with regulations.

- To develop a model of organization, management and operation of water supply systems in the Mekong delta region to meet production and business requirements in water supply activities and concurrently provide public products and services.

l/ Water supply development orientations toward 2050:

- To develop and complete the clean water pipeline and distribution networks in the entire region and each locality, ensuring supply of clean water for 100% of inhabitants in urban and rural residential areas.

- To apply scientific and technological advances and advanced and environment-friendly water treatment technologies adaptable to climate change.

- To apply saltwater treatment technologies to supply water for areas frequently affected by saltwater intrusion and not yet connected to inter-provincial water supply systems.

- To apply information technology to realize automated management and operation of water supply systems.

5. Preliminary estimation of budgets and funding sources

a/ Budget for master plan implementation:

The investment in inter-provincial water supply systems and expansion of water supply pipeline networks in the provinces and city in the Mekong delta region to 2030 is estimated to cost around VND 146 trillion, including:

- Around VND 57 trillion for the period to 2020.

- Around VND 33 trillion for the period to 2025.

- Around VND 56 trillion for the period to 2030.

b/ Funding sources:

- State budget funds.

- ODA and foreign loans.

- Investment credit loans.

- Domestic and foreign private funds.

- Other lawful funding sources.

6. Prioritized investment projects

a/ Investment projects on inter-provincial water plants:

- Investment project on the cluster of Hau River inter-provincial water plant No. 1 and Hau River inter-provincial water plant with a total daily capacity of 400,000 m³(by 2025), and 600,000 m³(by 2030), covering the construction of Hau River water plant No. 1 and capacity expansion of Hau River water plant; and construction of inter-provincial transmission pipeline routes to supply water for Hau Giang, Soc Trang, Bac Lieu and Ca Mau provinces and part of Can Tho city.

- Investment project on Hau River inter-provincial water plant No. 2, covering the construction of Hau River water plant No. 2 with a daily capacity of 200,000 m³(by 2025), and 300,000 m³(by 2030), and construction of inter-provincial transmission pipeline routes to supply water for An Giang and Kien Giang provinces and part of Can Tho city.

- Investment project on Tien River inter-provincial water plant No. 2, covering the construction of a water plant with a daily capacity of 200,000 m³(by 2025), and 300,000 m³(by 2030), and construction of inter-provincial transmission pipeline routes to supply water for Vinh Long, Tra Vinh and Ben Tre provinces.

b/ Projects on upgrading, development and expansion of water supply pipeline networks:

Localities shall review and elaborate investment projects to upgrade and expand water supply pipeline networks in urban and residential areas to receive water from inter-provincial water supply systems.

7. Strategic environmental assessment

a/ Forecast on environmental impacts and developments during master plan implementation:

- Exploitation of water sources, prioritizing drinking, daily  life and industrial production needs, will reduce water volume for agricultural production and aquaculture and affect river water flow.

- Construction of water plants and transmission pipeline routes may cause traffic congestion, noise and environmental pollution in adjacent areas and along water transmission pipeline routes.

- In the course of management and operation of water plants, waste may arise from the water treatment process, thus causing environmental pollution. The development of water supply for daily-life and production activities will concurrently increase the volume of wastewater from these activities, a source of environmental pollution.

b/ Environmental impact mitigation solutions:

- Exploitation and use of water sources:

+ To study and assess negative impacts on the water flow and hydro-meteorological regime, to develop a process to control and monitor the quality and reserves of water sources and make plans for response to climate change and saltwater intrusion.

+ To closely control polluting sources in the river basins such as wastewater and waste from urban centers, industrial parks and agricultural production.

+ To study, assess and closely control the lowering of groundwater level, groundwater quality and the level of ground subsidence relating to the exploitation of groundwater in localities.

- Control over construction activities:

+ To apply design solutions and technologies which meet requirements for protection of the eco-environment and water sources. To concurrently reduce to the utmost ground clearance and resettlement.

+ To control activities in the construction phase: To develop proper construction methods and solutions to minimize environmental impacts; measures to treat soil, water, air and noise pollution, and measures to prevent and control incidents during construction.

+ To control activities in the management and operation phase: To build water supply units’ capacity to manage and operate water plants, to ensure industrial environment and health and sanitation of the adjacent areas of water plants; to study the recovery and re-use of water used in the treatment process and to treat mud deposits up to technical regulations on environment; to develop and implement plans on secure water supply.

+ Other support measures.

c/ Control over the quality and reserves of water sources in climate change conditions and socio-economic development:

- To put in place systems to monitor, supervise and early warn the quality and flow of water sources from Tien and Hau rivers.

- To increasingly manage and thoroughly treat waste and wastewater from daily-life and production activities in the basins of Tien and Hau rivers.

- To increase coordination and water source information sharing among ministries, sectors and localities and promptly adopt solutions to tackle incidents.

Article 2.Organization of implementation

1. The Ministry of Construction shall:

- Publicize the master plan on water supply in the Mekong delta region through 2030, with a vision toward 2050, after it is approved by the Prime Minister.

- Guide the local administrations in reviewing and adjusting water supply master plans and other relevant master plans in their provinces in conformity with the master plan on water supply in the Mekong delta region through 2030, with a vision toward 2050.

- Study and develop a model of management and operation of inter-provincial water supply systems suitable to the socio-economic conditions and water supply development of the Mekong delta region; promulgate regulations on management and operation of inter-provincial water supply systems according to its competence.

- Coordinate with the People’s Committees of the provinces and city in the region in reviewing investment projects on water plants, water supply pipeline network development and water source improvement; decide on flexible solutions for investment in water supply projects in line with the roadmap for investment in inter-provincial water plants, response to climate change and saltwater intrusion and timely supply of water for drinking and daily life needs of inhabitants in the Mekong delta region.

- Review and assess technologies for treating saltwater and brackish water and re-using rainwater; study and propose water treatment technology models suitable to climate change and saltwater intrusion conditions.

2. Other related ministries and sectors:

On the basis of their functions and tasks assigned by the Government, ministries and sectors shall coordinate with the Ministry of Construction and provincial-level People’s Committees in the Mekong delta region in implementing the master plan on water supply in the Mekong delta region through 2030, with a vision toward 2050; performing the following key tasks:

- The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall assume the prime responsibility for studying, developing and proposing the Prime Minister to promulgate support mechanisms for investment in inter-provincial water supply systems in the Mekong delta region.

- The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall assume the prime responsibility for reviewing and assessing the use of groundwater sources in the Mekong delta region; assessing the quality, reserves and exploitation capacity of groundwater by province and area; managing sources of waste discharged into the Hau and Tien river basins; and developing a regulation on management, exploitation and use of groundwater in the Mekong delta region.

- The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall review and invest in the construction of irrigation works and multi-purpose reservoirs, prioritizing creation of water sources to meet daily life needs of inhabitants in the Mekong delta region.

3. Provincial-level People’s Committees shall:

- Review and adjust water supply master plans and other relevant master plans in their localities in conformity with the master plan on water supply in the Mekong delta region through 2030, with a vision toward 2050, approved by the Prime Minister, adding solutions to store water in combination with building anti-salinity sluices to create water sources for water plants as suitable to specific conditions of each locality.

- Organize the implementation of the master plan on water supply in the Mekong delta region through 2030, with a vision toward 2050; participate in the construction of inter-provincial water supply systems; invest in building pipeline networks for receiving and distributing clean water from inter-provincial water plants; implement water supply service agreements signed with inter-provincial water supply units; direct water supply investment and development activities in their provinces or cities in conformity with the approved master plan.

- Mobilize organizations and individuals to participate in the construction, management and operation of local water supply systems; direct the elaboration and organize the implementation of plans on secure water supply, particularly in the context of climate change and saltwater intrusion.

- Disseminate information and raise public awareness about the protection of water sources and water supply systems and efficient use of water.

Article 3.This Decision takes effect on the date of its signing.

The Minister of Construction, related ministries, chairpersons of the provincial-level People’s Committees in the Mekong delta region and heads of related agencies shall implement this Decision.-

For the Prime Minister
Deputy Prime Minister
TRINH DINH DUNG