Water and Wastewater Management in Vietnam:
Status, Plans, and Business Opportunities

Prof. Dr. Viet-Anh Nguyen• Director, Institute of Environmental Science and Engineering (IESE),
Hanoi University of Civil Engineering.
•Head of Science and Technology Department, Vietnam Association ofWater Supply and Sewerage (VWSA)Tokyo, July 2018

CONTENT• Water supply in urban areas– Status. Challenges. Business opportunities• Wastewater management in urban areas– Status. Challenges. Business opportunities• Water and wastewater management in industrialareas– Status. Challenges. Business opportunities• Water supply and sanitation in rural areas– Status. Challenges. Business opportunities• Conclusions and recommendations

2Prof. Dr. Nguyen Viet Anh, IESE, HUCE

WATER SUPPLY IN URBAN AREAS IN VIETNAM• 63 provinces. 7 different ecological zones. 94 million population.
• 780 cities and towns: 35.5% of total population.
• Total design capacity of urban water systems: 8.5 million m3/day(increased from 1.7 million m3/day in 1988).
• Urban population served with centralized water supply systems:
84.5% (ranging from 57 to 98%) (increased from 40% in 1988).
• Intensive growth over last 20 years• Investment over last 5 years: USD 550 million (USD 110 million/year)(Source: VWSA, 2018)3
Prof. Dr. Nguyen Viet Anh, IESE, HUCE

URBAN WATER SUPPLY: CURRENT STATUS• ~ 800 centralized WS systems. 110 urban water supply companies.
• Average water consumption rate: 108 l/cap/day (ranging from 33 to213 l/cap/day) (increased from 50 l/cap/day in 1988)• Non-revenue water: 22.5 % (8-30%) (decreased from 40% in 1988).
• Operators: Water Supply One Member Co. Ltd, JSC, JSC withforeign share holders, …
(Source: VWSA, 2018)4
Prof. Dr. Nguyen Viet Anh, IESE, HUCE

NEW APPROACHES AND TRENDS IN WATER SUPPLY• Equitization, privatization is taking place: 100/110 watercompanies have been equitized.
• Water supply service is being improved; Water quality improvement;
Water Safety Plan: shifting from quantity to quality of service• Non-revenue water management;• Application of new technologies in water treatment, distribution,
leakage control, asset management, business management, withapplication of IT and new management tools for processoptimization & energy savings and lowering operation costs.
• PPP in water industry: New Decree No. 15/2015 has been issued
to encourage Public – Private Partnership in infrastructuredevelopment.
– BOT, BOO, DBL modes in water projects: Binh An BOT; Thu Duc
BOO; Dong Tam BOO; Minh Duc DBL, etc– Foreign Share holders: Song Da WTP; Kenh Dong WTP; SongDuong WTP; etc.
5Prof. Dr. Nguyen Viet Anh, IESE, HUCE

EMERGING CONCERNS AND COMBATING MEASURES•Water source:Climate change, surface water scarcity, salt intrusion,usage conflict, groundwater depletion•Water pollution:
Surface water: NOMs, industrial and agro-chemicals,pathogens, chlorine disinfection, …
Ground water: organics, hardness, ammonia, arsenic…

•Financial Sources and Business efficiency.
Financial sources for water projects

Cost recovery.

•Needs of effective technologies
 Removal of ammonium, arsenic, organics fromgroundwater Membrane filtration for desalinization
 Energy efficiency in water system
 Automation, remote control for waster safety plan

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Viet Anh, IESE, HUCE

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HOT ISSUE 1. CO-TREATMENT OF IRON,MANGANESE, AMMONIUM AND ARSENIC INGROUNDWATER
Conventional groundwater treatment plants inVietnam: Production well - Aeration - Contact
chamber for iron oxidation (with or without lineand alum addition) - Rapid sand filtration –Chlorine disinfection.
In case of presence of manganese ingroundwater, additional aeration, pH rising,application of green sand is often applied.
 Ammonium and arsenic removal?
 Upgrading of existing water treatment plants
with cost effective technologies?

Conventional GW treatment plants
In Vietnam
7Prof. Dr. Nguyen Viet Anh, IESE, HUCEEXAMPLE OF APPLYING JAPAN’S TECHNOLOGYFOR GROUNDWATER TREATMENT IN VIETNAM
 Technology Name:
Extremely High Speed Chemical-less Groundwater Treatment System – “CHEMILES” (™)(Developed by Nagaoka International Corporation, Japan)
 Advantages:- High efficiency for Ammonia, Iron, Manganese and Arsenic removal- No chemical injection- High filtration speed → small footprint- Low operation cost, simple management
 Application place: Hanoi Water Co. Ltd., Hanoi City, Vietnam (2016)
 Purpose: Improving water quality
Treatment process before and after applying new technology
pH adjustCoagulant
chemical, NaOCl (3.5mg/L)

Well
Water

AerationTower

Coagulant PAAMixing
Tank

Sedimentation
Tank

NaOCl (1.5 mg/L)

Well
Water

CHEMILES

Disinfection
NaOCl (0.5 mg/L)

Filtration
Tank

SupplySystemDisinfection
NaOCl (0.5 mg/L)

Mn filtrationtank

SupplySystemCHEMILES system
in Hanoi Water Co. Ltd.
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HOT ISSUE 2:
REMOVAL OF ORGANIC MATTERS FROM SURFACE WATERCoagulation – Flocculation – Sedimentation – Rapid sand filtration isa conventional water treatment technology.
Conventional treatment process can remove 30-50% of organics.
Powered activated carbon, Granular activated carbon seem notsuitable because of high cost.
Inexpensive technology for retrofitting/ upgrading existing treatment
plant is needed.
 Biological carbon filtration (BCF) pre-treatment?

 Biological carbon filtration with ozonation?
 Micro-bubble?
 Other options?

9Prof. Dr. Nguyen Viet Anh, IESE, HUCE

URBAN WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT
 90% of HHs have septic tanks
 4% of septage disposed satisfactorily
 70-80% of HHs have access to piped drainage/ seweragesystems
 ~17% of collected drainage/ sewerage treated by centralizedWWTPs
 41 municipal WWTPs currently in operation, with total capacity~950,000 m3/day (increased from 2 WWTPs in 2005)
 >30 municipal WWTPs in planning/construction, with total
capacity 1.5 million m3/day
 Investment over last 5 years: >USD 1 billion (USD 220
million/year) (>80% is ODA, rest is from state budget)

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Prof. Dr. Nguyen Viet Anh, IESE, HUCEBARRIERS & CHALLENGES IN URBAN W/W MANAGEMENT CSS (Combined sewerage and drainage system) is dominating in most ofexisting urban areas in Vietnam. Most of wastewater projects in these areas
prefer to stay with CSS, due to limited budget. SSS (Separate seweragesystem) is compulsory in new urban development projects.
 Low C/N in incoming flow to WWTP from CSS is a challenge for biologicalwastewater treatment processes.

 Sludge drying and dumping at landfill is a most common sludge treatment
method. Utilization of sludge for recovery of energy or valuable materials is tobe considered.
 Fecal sludge management is among hot issues, but not well handled in allcities, so far.

 Lack of capital investment and low wastewater tariff are among key financialbarriers.
 Private sector started to take part in wastewater management (BT projects,Contract for Operation of WWTPs).
 It’s time to discuss about energy efficiency, and resource recovery inwastewater management.

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Viet Anh, IESE, HUCE

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FINANCING MECHANISMS FOR WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT

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Prof. Dr. Nguyen Viet Anh, IESE, HUCE

HOT ISSUE 3: TREATMENT TECHNOLOGY DEALING WITH LOW C/NRATIO IN THE INCOMING WASTEWATER FLOW 92% of WW conveyed by Combined Sewerage & Drainage Systems(CSS) Challenges: low influent BOD (31 – 135 mg/l: range of annualaverage flows, vs. 50 mg/l – national class “B” standard for effluentBOD); low C/N ratio for adequate biological treatment processes

13Prof. Dr. Nguyen Viet Anh, IESE, HUCE

HOT ISSUE 4: TREATMENT OF SLUDGE
GENERATED FROM SEWERAGE AND DRAINAGE SYSTEM
 Dredged sludge from sewerage and drainage network
 Sewage sludge from WWTP
 Dumping is a most common method.
 Open questions: Composting? Anaerobic (Co-)Digestion? Dryingand Incineration? Carbonization? etc.

New project: 75 t Industrial solid
waste/day, generating 1.93 MW
electricity, Hanoi city
(NEDO, Hitachi Zosen)Prof. Dr. Nguyen Viet Anh, IESE, HUCE

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HOT ISSUE 5: SUSTAINABLE URBAN DRAINAGE AND RAINWATER
HARVESTING
Many cities are still suffering from floods. Floods are becoming more
and more unpredictable due to climate changeComprehensive countermeasures are neededEco-city and green growth are being encouraged
Rainwater harvesting can be realized at household scale, city and basinscale
 Big market for green and smart solutions
 Good models and guidance are needed

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Prof. Dr. Nguyen Viet Anh, IESE, HUCE

HOT ISSUE 6: GREEN BUILDING, GREEN AND SMART CITY
• National Strategy on Green Growth for the period 2020, vision
2030 (2012)• National Strategy on development of Green Buildings: drafted.
• Number of new projects: in development of smart cities and green
cities, Hi-Tech parks, eco-resort areas, …

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Prof. Dr. Nguyen Viet Anh, IESE, HUCE

WATER AND WASTEWATER MANAGEMENTIN INDUSTRIAL AREAS• Nearly 371 IZs have been established.
280 IZs are in operation, with ~7,500
factories. Average coverage ratio:70%.
• Centralized WWTPs: at 238 IZs(>86%) (increased from 30% in 2005).
• Some provinces have managed tohave 100% coverage of wastewater
treatment plants in IZs.
(Source: MPI, 2017, MONRE, 2017)

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Viet Anh, IESE, HUCECHALLENGES IN INDUSTRIAL WW MANAGEMENT•••••

Control of incoming flows and O&M of CETPs
On-site wastewater treatment + Cleaner production at Factories
Energy efficiency
Sludge Management
Financing for Industrial wastewater projects: Investment, Costrecovery• Pollution control of thousands of Industrial Clusters and IndividualIndustries; 3,300 handicraft villages.

18Prof. Dr. Nguyen Viet Anh, IESE, HUCECOMBATING MEASURES• Industrial WW management: Polluter-Pay-Principle• Supporting Policies for Financing, Technologies, Monitoring &Evaluation, etc. (VIPMP project, WB)• Effluent standard for CETPs and for selected industries: Class A, B
• Installation of AMS; Application of EIA; Post EIA; Discharge License;
Inspection Campaigns; Environmental Police; Public Opinions; etc.
• Green IZ development: new concept

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Prof. Dr. Nguyen Viet Anh, IESE, HUCE

HOT ISSUE 7: INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT
 Removal of organic substances, color, heavy metals, POPs, etc. fromwastewater in specific industries, and in centralized WWTP ofIndustrial zone, for a reasonable cost High efficient wastewater treatment technologies, less foot print, lessenergy consumption
 Process control and process optimization tools Energy auditing, mass balance tools

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Prof. Dr. Nguyen Viet Anh, IESE, HUCE

HOT ISSUE 8: WASTEWATER REUSE – A NEW INTERESTAgricultural use: irrigation, fish farmingIndustrial use: different purposes
Treated wastewater use in urban areas
Reclaimed water is a 5th water source (besides surface water,groundwater, rainwater, and saving water) New quality standards should be developed New plumbing code and appropriate equipment are needed Strict control, WSP should be set up
 Technical guidance are needed21
Prof. Dr. Nguyen Viet Anh, IESE, HUCE

RURAL WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION• 2017: 95% of rural population are provided with “hygienic” watersupply.
• ~50% of HHs are provided with “clean” water meeting domestic waterquality regulation QCVN 02/2009:BYT.
• Financial sources:– Government budget– Favor loans– ODA loans and grants– Private sector– Households• Challenges:– Water shortage in remote and coastal areas– Water safety (water quality) at HHs– Professional management models.
– Sustainability of rural water supply systems (technical, financial)
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Prof. Dr. Nguyen Viet Anh, IESE, HUCE

RURAL WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION• New management models: PCERWASS, PPP, PSP;... Number ofwater supply systems have full cost recovery accounting.
• IEC campaigns• M&E system.
• Results-based projects (PfR - WB, NGOs)• Centralized water supply system for groups of communes• Transfer of rural water supply systems to provincial water supply
companies

23Prof. Dr. Nguyen Viet Anh, IESE, HUCE

RURAL WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION
••

2017:
– >80% of HHS are with toilets, among them 60% are “hygienic”.
– >90% schools, clinics, PC buildings are with WS&S facilities.
– 50% live-stock breeding are considered as hygienic, including 0.3mio. biogas digesters.
– 40% communes are with solid waste collection and disposal.
Challenges– Open defecation, unhygienic latrines, especially at poor HHs.
– Unsafe reuse of feces in farming (30% of rural HHs practice reuse,in which 20% keep fecal materials for more than 6 months)

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Viet Anh, IESE, HUCE

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RURAL WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION•Measures:– Rural Sanitation Planning– Combination of wastewater collection – treatment – reuse– Balance among Water Supply and Sanitation financing– Guidance. Standard design. Manual. Etc.
– Promotion via seeding and demonstration projects– IEC campaigns– New Sanitation Initiatives:• CLTS, Sanitation Marketing, New Low-cost Hygienic Latrines• Different sources25
Prof. Dr. Nguyen Viet Anh, IESE, HUCE

HOT ISSUE 9: WATER SAFETY PLAN FOR RURAL HOUSEHOLDS Adequate water treatment technologies in rural areas with
polluted water sources (NOMs, POPs, ammonia, etc.)
 Safe drinking water for reasonable costs at household scale Rural water supply in emergencies (draught, flood, salt intrusion,land slide, etc.)

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Prof. Dr. Nguyen Viet Anh, IESE, HUCE

HOT ISSUE 10: LOW COST AND SUSTAINABLE SANITATION SOLUTIONSFOR RURAL COMMUNITIES Low-cost hygienic latrine for low-income households
 Low-cost, decentralized wastewater treatment systems
 Low-cost sewerage Wastewater treatment for pig farms
 Wastewater treatment for handicraft villages (food processing,furniture, traditional textile and dying, etc.)
 Safe reuse of excreta and wastewater in agriculture (soft and hardwares)27
Prof. Dr. Nguyen Viet Anh, IESE, HUCECONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONSVietnam Water Industry is in the intensive development period:
expansion of service area, improvement of service quality, with different
stakeholders involved
Government policy: PSP is encouraged.
Wastewater reuse should be brought up to national policy, along withguidelines, case studies, demonstration and implementation projects.
High efficiency, reasonable cost technologies are needed.
Cooperation is needed: Sharing information of regulations, problems, needs, solutions
 Bridging to Vietnam’s water industry network and players
 Investment and joint bidding opportunities
 Combination of foreign and local consultants, imported equipment
and locally fabricated components for reducing costs

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Viet Anh, IESE, HUCE28

Thank you very muchfor your attention !

Contact: Prof. Dr. Viet-Anh Nguyen• Director, Institute of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hanoi University of Civil
Engineering.
• Head of Science and Technology Department, Vietnam Association of water Supply
and Sewerage (VWSA)• Tel: +84-91320 9689. E-Mail: anhnv@nuce.edu.vn. Web: www.iese.vn.
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