Decision No. 1929/QD-TTg Approves the Orientation for the Development of Urban and Industrial Zone Water Supply in Vietnam until 2025 and Vision until 2050

Pursuant to …;

Approving the orientation for the development of urban and industrial zone water supply in Vietnam until 2025 and vision until 2050

__________________________

 PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the Law on Organization of the Government dated December 25, 2001;

Pursuant to Decree No. 117/2007/NĐ-CP dated July 11, 2007 on production, supply, and consumption of clean water;

Considering the proposal of the Minister of Construction,

DECISION:

Article 1. Approving the orientation for the development of urban and industrial zone water supply in Vietnam until 2025 and vision until 2050 with the following contents:

1. Viewpoints:

- Water supply activities are business operations subject to state control to ensure the rights and legitimate interests of water suppliers and water users, including consideration for water supply support to the poor and particularly difficult areas.

- Sustainable development of water supply activities based on optimal exploitation of all resources, meeting the demand for clean water usage; providing stable water supply, ensuring quality, good service, and economy.

- Exploitation, production, and supply of clean water not limited by administrative boundaries. Prioritize exploitation of water sources for community domestic purposes.

- Encourage reasonable, economical, safe use of clean water and application of water reuse technology for other purposes.

- Apply scientific and technological advances to gradually modernize the water supply sector, progressing towards the management and operation level of advanced countries worldwide.

- Socialize the water supply sector, mobilizing all economic sectors including organizations and individuals to participate in investment and development of water supply. Increase the proportion of private sector participation in water supply activities.

2. Vision for cities and industrial zones (including industrial parks, export processing zones, high-tech zones, and economic zones) will be fully met with water supply needs based on stable water supply, assured quality, good service, and economy.

3. Objectives:

a) General Objective:

Orientation for the development of urban and industrial zone water supply sectors serving the industrialization and modernization of the country. On this basis, develop specific plans and action programs to provide stable, assured quality, good service, and economical water supply for each period's needs.

b) Objectives and specific indicators until 2015:

- Coverage rate of clean water supply services in cities from type III upwards reaches 90%, with a standard of 120 liters/person/day-night; cities of type IV reach 70%, with a standard of 100 liters/person/day-night; cities of type V reach 50% supplied by centralized water systems; water quality meets prescribed standards.

- Loss rate of clean water below 25% for cities of type IV and above and new water supply systems, below 30% for cities of type V with existing water supply systems.

- Stable and continuous water supply service. In cities from type III upwards, there is a continuous water supply time of 24 hours per day. For cities of type IV and V, water supply time is appropriate to actual needs and conditions.

- Industrial zones are provided with sufficient water according to pressure and flow requirements.

c) Objectives and specific indicators until 2020:

- Coverage rate of water supply for cities of type IV and above reaches 90%, with a standard of 120 liters/person/day-night; cities of type V reach 70% supplied by centralized water systems with a standard of 100 liters/person/day-night; water quality meets prescribed standards.

- Loss rate of clean water below 18% for cities of type IV and above, below 25% for cities of type V; continuous water supply of 24 hours for cities of type IV and above.

d) Objectives and specific indicators until 2025:

- Coverage rate of clean water supply services in cities reaches 100%, with an average standard of 120 liters/person/day-night, water quality meets prescribed standards.

- Loss rate of clean water in cities below 15%.

- Stable and continuous 24-hour water supply service, water pressure throughout the network meets prescribed standards.

Article 2. Implementation measures:

1. Water sources:

- Prioritize surface water exploitation, reasonably exploit and use groundwater, and gradually reduce groundwater extraction volumes in large cities such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, etc., especially cities with limited underground water reserves.

- Conduct surveys, investigations, exploration, and evaluation to establish a database of water sources. Assess and upgrade groundwater extraction capacity. Evaluate the volume and quality of surface water, including water from rivers, lakes, and reservoirs nationwide. Develop plans for multi-purpose reservoir exploitation, prioritizing domestic water supply.

- Strengthen planning for water resource exploitation, utilization, and protection.

- Enhance water source management, supervision, and protection, establishing river basin water management committees. Strengthen upstream river protection and strictly monitor wastewater discharge into water sources.

2. Investment, development, and management of water supply systems:

- Strengthen implementation of inter-provincial, provincial, and inter-city water supply planning; closely integrate urban water supply with adjacent rural areas. Prioritize investment in regional water supply projects.

- Encourage all economic sectors to participate in water supply development investment.

- Invest in building integrated water treatment plants and pipeline networks to ensure full design capacity operation.

- Prioritize projects to reduce water loss.

- Inspect and evaluate the quality of water supply operations, renovate and expand pipeline networks to meet water usage needs, maximize design capacity, and reduce water loss rates.

- Implement regulations to ensure water supply safety.

3. Mechanisms and policies for the water supply sector:

- Mobilize capital from organizations and individuals both domestically and internationally to invest in water supply systems.

- Establish a revolving fund for water supply to create financial support and invest in water supply development projects in small cities and concentrated residential areas.

- Water supply construction projects enjoy state incentives and support in accordance with the provisions of the law.

- The water price shall be accurately calculated to ensure full recovery of investment costs, profitable operation, and attraction of investors. A roadmap for increasing water prices shall be established to meet these requirements.

- Review and adjust the system of technical standards and regulations in the water sector in a coordinated manner.

4. Research and development of technology, materials, and equipment in the water supply field:

- New plants must select modern technologies and equipment with high levels of automation, energy efficiency.

- Gradually upgrade, improve, and replace equipment at existing plants to meet the requirements of reducing water losses, energy costs, chemical costs, and operational expenses.

- Study and organize the production of high-quality materials and equipment domestically, aiming to fully provide all types of materials and equipment for the water supply industry by 2025. In new construction projects, encourage the use of high-quality materials and equipment produced domestically.

- Prioritize research and production of water-saving and energy-efficient equipment.

5. Training and human resource development:

- Improve the quality and quantity of specialized engineers in water supply and drainage at educational institutions to meet the needs of the water industry's development.

- Strengthen and expand vocational schools and enhance the training quality of workers in the water supply industry to serve management, operation, and maintenance requirements.

- Establish mechanisms and working environments in the water industry to attract capable scientific staff for researching and developing technology, applying advanced scientific and technological progress from around the world.

- Enhance planning and management capabilities for the water industry among specialized cadres from central to local levels.

6. Management organization in the water supply field:

- Unify state management of the water industry from central to local levels concerning water supply activities.

- Each province and centrally-administered city must have specialized water supply units responsible before the authorities for supplying water to urban areas.

- Implement restructuring and reform processes to improve the effectiveness of state-owned enterprises engaged in water supply according to specific timelines and conditions of each locality.

- Consolidate and develop water training centers in the three regions: North, Central, and South.

- Study the establishment of a Water Research Institute and laboratories and monitoring stations in the three regions: North, Central, and South to assess water quality, storage volume, and post-treatment quality.

7. Education and communication:

- Introduce basic knowledge about water sources, water supply systems, and environmental protection into secondary school curricula; organize visits, understanding, and evaluations of water source and water supply system conditions for students.

- Vigorously promote the role of clean water in people's lives; responsibilities of organizations and individuals towards water supply systems.

- Inform state policies on the water supply and water resources sector; regulatory measures for managing water supply systems and protecting water resources.

8. International cooperation:

Strengthen exchanges and cooperation in science and technology with international organizations and non-governmental organizations to:

- Exchange and learn experiences in the water supply field.

- Invest in building water supply systems.

- Receive technical support, transfer technology, and training.

Article 3. Implementation organization:

1. Ministry of Construction:

- Lead and coordinate with relevant ministries, sectors, and provincial people's committees to implement the orientation for urban and industrial zone water supply development until 2025 and vision until 2050; prepare plans and programs for short-term (until 2015) and long-term (until 2025) periods.

- Summarize and build investment plans for urban water supply development until 2015 and 2025.

- Consolidate and develop water training centers.

- Summarize and evaluate the implementation of Decree No. 117/2007/ND-CP dated July 11, 2007, of the Government on the production, supply, and consumption of clean water and other legal documents in the water supply and drainage sector.

- Review the system of technical standards and regulations in the water supply sector to meet synchronization requirements; issue and guide the determination of planning fees, consulting fees, project evaluation fees, and operating and management costs of water supply systems.

- Lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to establish a database for urban water supply and drainage.

2. Relevant Ministries and Sectors

Based on their assigned functions and tasks by the Government, relevant ministries and sectors shall formulate plans and action programs to implement the orientation for urban and industrial zone water supply development in Vietnam until 2025 and vision until 2050, coordinating with the Ministry of Construction to implement these programs.

3. Provincial People's Committees under the Central Government:

- Organize the implementation of Decree No. 117/2007/ND-CP dated July 11, 2007, of the Government on the production, supply, and consumption of clean water.

- Implement restructuring and reform processes to improve the effectiveness of state-owned enterprises engaged in water supply according to specific timelines and conditions of each locality.

- Organize the restructuring of water supply companies and management of water sources including exploitation and protection of water sources at the local level.

- Organize the implementation of the Regulation on Ensuring Safe Water Supply.

- Coordinate with other localities to plan water source exploitation and protection according to river basins.

- Encourage domestic and foreign businesses, organizations, and individuals to participate in investing, researching, and operating water supply systems for urban areas.

- Develop water supply plans and programs consistent with urban development and oversee their implementation.

- Promote awareness and roles and responsibilities of organizations and individuals in protecting and exploiting water sources; using water hygienically and efficiently.

Article 4. This Decision takes effect from the date of issuance.

Ministers, heads of agencies equivalent to ministries, heads of government agencies, Chairmen of provincial people's committees, and related organizations and individuals are responsible for implementing this Decision.