River Waste Project:

Vietnam

Table of Contents
Abstract............................................................................................................................................2
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Plan..................................................................................................................................................4
Benefits:...........................................................................................................................................5
Approach/Evaluation:......................................................................................................................6
Qualifications...................................................................................................................................7
Works Cited.....................................................................................................................................8

Abstract:
Vietnam is a heavily populated area in which most of its water comes from the 2360 rivers
surrounding the area. However, due to industrial and human waste products, it has become
seriously polluted and have affected the people and the river ecosystem. Since most of the people
living in Vietnam rely on the river as part of their lives both directly and indirectly, it is
imperative to clean the river system. With this program, it will create jobs, power, and clean up
the main water system to restore the health of the people and the river ecosystem.

Introduction:
Water is the essential to life. In Vietnam, the main rivers plays an essential role to the livelihood
of the populace. However, due to industrial wastes and trash thrown in the rivers, it has severely
toxified the water, harming both the river ecosystem and the health of the people that uses the
extremely contaminated water. For example, in 2008, Vedan factory, a sodium glutamate plant,
released their untreated industrial wastewater into the Thi Vai River and caused tons of fish and
ducks in the river to die (Nguyen). Another example is the Northern region of Vietnam
around Hanoi, there is evidence of arsenic contamination in the drinking water. About 7 million
people living in this area have a severe risk of arsenic poisoning and since elevated levels of
arsenic can cause cancer, neurological and skin problems, this is a serious issue. The Water
Project. In another case, The Ministry of National Resources and Environmental state that
almost 80% of the diseases in Vietnam are caused by polluted water[causing] many cases of
cholera, typhoid, dysentery and malaria each year in the country. But the real underlining
cause of all of this is the lack of awareness from the people. Due to the mentality of the
Vietnamese people that anything could be reused or recycled in some shape or form, the country
could be comparative to a hoarder saying that everything could potentially be used but is put off
until further notice. Second of all, the thought of most rural impoverish people is focused on the
here and now rather than the future. Trying make ends meet day by day, the consequences of not
having something to eat today far outweighs the effects that could happen in the distant future.
This, however, leaves the future generations the burden of the past generations mistakes.

Plan:
This plan to clean up the waterways of Vietnam is multi-step process that will that results
immediate and gradual effects. The first step is to raise awareness because it is the main cause
for this problem. If a populace knows that it is an issue, they are more aware that it could effects
that the pollution can potentially bring.
The gradual way in solving this is to implement it as a necessity to teach students in class as part
of their curriculum to understand this dilemma. The earlier the better. Having elementary kids be
introduced to it and constantly reintroducing it as these kids grow older, the newer generations
can be more aware of past mistakes and develop minds to further help the cause in the future.
For some immediate effect, recycling facilities will be made to allow recycling and collecting
trash as a job. For the two-third of the country that is in poverty, some of them can try to make a
profit by collecting trash for recycling materials. By doing so, it gives them a purpose to clean up
the rivers and trash filling the country.
The second step of this process is creating filter dams. In this case, specialized dams that
maintains a natural flow of the rivers water rather than blocking it, having gaps to allow fishes
to move up and down the dam freely, filters the water from industrial waste as well as providing
hydropower for neighboring cities. These dams are going to be placed in ideal conditions where
water flow is relatively large and near polluted highly populated areas. In doing so, it would have
the most impact on the pollution in the country.
The overall goal of this plan is to reduce rather than to completely rid the pollution in the river
system. The reduction of the toxin in the water would gradually bring back replenish river
biodiversity as well as healthier people who uses it daily. The maintenance of the river, however,
still lies in the hands of the future generations.

Benefits:
The incorporation of pollution awareness in classes would increase awareness in future students
allowing those who are really concern to come up with better plans to help their country become
cleaner in the future. The jobs created from recycling trash will reduce the present day problem
and give the people a good purpose to rid the trash not just only in the rivers but other areas as
well. For example, lakes, cities, and rural areas would benefit from this. The newly created filter
dams will help reduce toxin level in the water, generate a consistent supply of power to
neighboring cities, and saving electricity made from other sources. With the cleaner water
flowing out of the filter dams, water for irrigation would benefit for better crops and livestock.

Approach/Evaluation:
Schedule: For school awareness, the schools could designate one or two days annually to discuss
the river problem. The students can also get involved by having the class go down to the river
and pick up trash there.
The dam project, however, would take around half a year to install and assign people to work
there.
Cost/Budget: For each specialized dam built, it would cost around $1,500 - $6,000 to build. The
project plans on making around 6 dams. Making the grand total for installation around $9,000 $36,000. Not including maintenance costs. However, the production of hydroelectricity would
cut the cost overtime.
Managements: With the help of some other organizations like The Water Project, they can
help bring clean water to the people while the environmental institutions in Vietnam to help with
the rivers health.
Every month, the environmental institutions can help record the ever changing progress the
project by testing pollutant levels in the water to see if there have been any sign of improvement.
Other water project organizations can come and build wells annually to give the rural people a
clean source of water to improve their health conditions.

Qualifications:
Alongside with others who wish to improve Vietnams river conditions, some institutions like
Institute of Environmental Technology (IET) and the Vietnamese Academy of Science and
Technology (VSAT) would be responsible in research and data of the river ecosystem. The
government would be responsible to carry out the building projects and incorporating awareness
to schools in Vietnam.

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Works Cited
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Nguyen, Hue Thi. Overview of Water Environmental Pollution in Vietnam Nguyen Thi Hue (n.d.): n.
pag. Wepa-db. Web. 13 Nov. 2015. <http://www.wepa-db.net/pdf/0712forum/paper04.pdf>.
Nguyen, Ngoc Lien. "Causes of Water Pollution in Vietnam." Eslstation. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2015.
<http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eslstation.net%2FLab_Information%2FOur_Lives%2FPlaces
%2FWater_Pollution_Vietnam.htm>.
"State of Water : Vietnam." State of Water : Vietnam. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2015. <http://www.wepadb.net/policies/state/vietnam/overview.htm>.
Suwal, Sahisna. "Water In Crisis - Spotlight Vietnam." The Water Project. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Nov.
2015. <http://thewaterproject.org/water-in-crisis-vietnam>.
"Top 5 Most Polluted Rivers in Asia." Backpackerlee. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2015.
Truc, Thanh. "Exploitation of Vietnam's Rivers Pollutes Local Water Sources." Radio Free Asia. Trans.
Joshua Lipes. N.p., 24 July 2013. Web. 15 Nov. 2015.