Circular No. 50/2015/TT-BYT stipulates the inspection of drinking water and domestic water quality and hygiene.

CIRCULAR

Regulations on hygiene and quality inspection of drinking water and domestic water

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This Circular prescribes procedures for receiving, providing health care for domestic violence victims and statistical reports on domestic violence victims at medical facilities.

Based on Decree No. 117/2007/NĐ-CP dated July 11, 2007 of the Government on production, supply, and consumption of clean water; Decree No. 124/2011/NĐ-CP dated December 28, 2011 of the Government amending and supplementing certain articles of Decree No. 117/2007/NĐ-CP dated July 11, 2007 of the Government on production, supply, and consumption of clean water;

At the proposal of the Director of the Medical Environment Management Department;

The Minister of Health issues this Circular to regulate the hygiene and quality inspection of drinking water and domestic water

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Circular regulates the hygiene and quality inspection of drinking water and domestic water.

Article 2. Interpretation of Terms

In this Circular, the following terms are understood as follows:

1. Drinking water is water used for eating and food preparation purposes provided by water supply facilities, ensuring quality according to technical standards issued by the Ministry of Health.

2. Domestic Water Supply is water used for general household purposes, not for direct drinking or food preparation, provided by water supply facilities, ensuring quality according to technical standards issued by the Ministry of Health.

3. Household water is water extracted and stored by households for domestic use.

4. Internal inspection is the implementation of regulations to ensure hygiene and quality of water by water supply facilities themselves, including inspection of hygiene at the water extraction site, environmental hygiene, production system hygiene; testing the quality of finished water products according to regulations; establishing and managing records to monitor hygiene and water quality.

5. External inspection is the inspection of compliance with regulations to ensure hygiene and quality of water by water supply facilities conducted directly by state agencies authorized, including general hygiene inspection; inspection of internal inspection procedures; testing the quality of finished water products.

6. Water supply facility is an organization or individual carrying out part or all of the activities of extracting, producing, trading, and supplying drinking water and domestic water.

7. Finished water is the water product that has completed the final stage of the water treatment process and is introduced into the distribution network or delivery means to be supplied for use by organizations and individuals.

Article 3. State agencies authorized to directly inspect water hygiene and quality

1. Provincial Preventive Health Centers (hereinafter referred to as Provincial Preventive Health Centers); District Health Centers or District Health Centers under provincial-level cities (hereinafter referred to as District Health Centers or District Health Centers) perform preventive health functions and have the authority to inspect the hygiene and quality of water from water supply facilities.

2. Commune Health Stations, Ward Health Stations, Town Health Stations (hereinafter referred to as Commune Health Stations) have the authority to inspect the hygiene and quality of water for household water supply methods.

Chapter II

INSPECTION OF HYGIENE AND QUALITY OF WATER FROM WATER SUPPLY FACILITIES

Section 1

INTERNAL INSPECTION OF HYGIENE AND QUALITY OF WATER

Article 4. Inspection of hygiene at the water extraction site

1. For water supply facilities using underground water sources:

a) Scope of inspection: within a minimum radius of 25 meters from the underground water extraction point.

b) Content of inspection:

- Surrounding protective walls.

- Construction works (including those of the water supply facility).

- Water pipelines, sewers, ditches, drainage channels running through or discharging into the protected water source area.

- Industrial, agricultural production activities, mineral resource exploitation.

- Waste, garbage, wastewater from production, business, and daily life activities.

c) Evaluation method: according to the Risk Scoring Form specified in Model No. 01 - Appendix No. 01 issued together with this Circular.

2. For water supply facilities using river water sources:

a) Scope of inspection: within a minimum radius of 200 meters upstream from the water intake point, 100 meters downstream from the water intake point, and 100 meters along both riverbanks measured from the highest water level of the river.

b) Content of inspection:

- Warning signs marking the protected water source area boundary.

- Trash screens at the water intake point.

- Ferry docks, ferry terminals, or inland waterway vessels moored there.

- Construction works (including those of the water supply facility).

- Industrial, agricultural production activities, mineral resource exploitation, service provision, aquaculture.

- Water pipelines, sewers, ditches, drainage channels running through or discharging into the protected water source area.

- Waste, garbage, wastewater from production, business, and daily life activities.

c) Evaluation method: according to the Risk Scoring Form specified in Model No. 02 - Appendix No. 01 issued together with this Circular.

3. For water supply facilities using water from reservoirs:

a) Scope of inspection: within a minimum radius of 300 meters from the water intake point;

b) Content of inspection: as stipulated in Point b Clause 2 Article 4 of this Circular;

c) Evaluation method: according to the Risk Scoring Form specified in Model No. 03 - Appendix No. 01 issued together with this Circular.

Article 5. Inspection of the external hygiene of water supply facilities

1. Scope of inspection: the entire area within the protective fence of the water supply facility.

2. Content of Inspection:

a) Wastewater collection and treatment systems, waste disposal;

b) Sanitary facilities: the sanitary condition of toilets (bathrooms).

3. Evaluation method: fill out information according to the Internal Hygiene and Water Quality Inspection Form specified in Model No. 01 - Appendix No. 02 issued together with this Circular.

Article 6. Inspection of the water production system hygiene at water supply facilities

1. Scope of inspection: the entire water production system.

2. Content of Inspection:

a) Reservoirs, tanks, ponds for raw water and finished water;

b) Water pumping stations;

c) Iron and manganese removal systems;

d) Coagulation tanks, sedimentation tanks, filtration tanks, and post-treatment storage tanks;

đ) Disinfection systems;

e) Chemical storage rooms for water treatment: type, name, origin, certification or confirmation documents for chemicals used for disinfecting drinking water and domestic water (for disinfectants) issued by competent authorities; storage conditions; expiration date; usage methods; stock quantity; records of chemical usage;

g) Chemical mixing units;

h) Personal protective equipment according to labor safety laws.

3. Evaluation method: fill out information according to the Internal Hygiene and Water Quality Inspection Form specified in Model No. 01 - Appendix No. 02 issued together with this Circular.

Article 7. Testing of finished water quality

1. Testing criteria:

a) For water supply facilities with a designed capacity of 1,000 m³/day-night or more: test all criteria at levels A, B, and C as prescribed in the National Technical Regulation on Drinking Water Quality issued by the Minister of Health;³/day night or more: test all indicators at levels A, B, C as prescribed in the National Technical Regulation on Drinking Water Quality issued by the Minister of Health;

b) For water supply facilities with a designed capacity below 1,000 m³/day-night: test all criteria at levels A and B as prescribed in the National Technical Regulation on Domestic Water Quality issued by the Minister of Health.³2. The testing of water quality must be conducted in laboratories certified to ISO/IEC 17025:2005 for the tested water quality criteria.

Article 8. Frequency of internal inspections

1. Regular inspections:

a) Daily hygiene inspection of raw water extraction sites, external environment, and water production system hygiene according to the Internal Hygiene and Water Quality Inspection Form specified in Model No. 01 - Appendix No. 02 issued together with this Circular;

b) Frequency of finished water quality testing:

- For water supply facilities with a designed capacity of 1,000 m³/day-night or more: test at least once every week for level A criteria; test at least once every six months for level B criteria; test at least once every two years for level C criteria.

- For water supply facilities with a designed capacity below 1,000 m³/day-night: test at least once every three months for level A criteria; test at least once every six months for level B criteria.³/day night or more: test at least once per week the indicators at level A; test at least once every six months the indicators at level B; test at least once every two years the indicators at level C.

2. Unannounced inspections: when there are environmental incidents; when water source hygiene inspections indicate a risk of contamination; when risks arise during production that may affect finished water quality; or when special requirements exist.³Article 9. Cases where hygiene and water quality standards are not met

In cases where hygiene and water quality standards are not met, water supply facilities must undertake the following actions:

1. Immediately address the causes of non-compliance with hygiene and water quality standards and report the results to the competent state authority as stipulated in Article 3 of this Circular.

2. If the issues cannot be resolved, immediately report to the management authority, the competent state authority, the local government where the water supply facility is located, and the Department of Health to take measures to resolve the issue or consider suspending production and water supply operations.

1. Immediately address the causes of unsatisfactory hygiene and water quality and report the results of such actions to the competent state agency as stipulated in Article 3 of this Circular.

2. In cases where it is not possible to address the issues, immediately report to the management authority, the competent state agency, the local government where the water supply facility is located, and the Department of Health for appropriate measures to be taken or consideration of suspending production and water supply operations.

Article 10. Records for monitoring and managing water hygiene and quality

Water supply facilities must establish and manage records for monitoring water hygiene and quality, including:

1. Results of testing and analyzing the quality of raw water and finished water of the water supply facility before commencing production operations.

2. Results of regular hygiene inspections as stipulated in Point a, Clause 1, Article 8 of this Circular; results of sudden hygiene inspections.

3. Results of regular and sudden tests on the quality of raw water.

4. Results of regular and sudden tests on the quality of finished water.

5. Logs for tracking the retention of finished water samples (each time a sample is taken, record the specific quantity of retained samples; sampling location; sample volume; sample preservation method; sampling and retention time; sampler).

6. Reports and documents on the implementation of safe water supply plans.

Article 11. General Hygiene Inspection

1. Inspection contents: include hygiene inspection of raw water extraction sites, external environment hygiene, and production system hygiene, carried out according to the provisions of Articles 4, 5, and 6 of this Circular.

2. Evaluation Method: fill in information according to the External Hygiene and Water Quality Inspection Form specified in Model No. 02 - Appendix No. 02 issued together with this Circular.

Article 12. Inspection of Internal Control Compliance

1. Inspection content:

a) Records for monitoring and managing hygiene and water quality;

b) Frequency of internal control compliance;

c) Implementation of information and reporting systems for hygiene and water quality.

2. Evaluation Method: fill in information according to the External Hygiene and Water Quality Inspection Form specified in Model No. 02 - Appendix No. 02 issued together with this Circular.

Article 13. Testing Finished Water Quality

1. Test criteria: as stipulated in Clause 1, Article 7 of this Circular.

2. The testing of water quality shall be conducted at laboratories recognized as meeting the ISO/IEC 17025: 2005 standard for the tested water quality criteria.

Article 14. Frequency of External Inspections

a) Daily hygiene inspection of raw water extraction sites, external environment, and water production system hygiene according to the Internal Hygiene and Water Quality Inspection Form specified in Model No. 01 - Appendix No. 02 issued together with this Circular;

a) At least once per year for general hygiene inspections and compliance with internal control procedures of water supply facilities;

b) At least once per year for testing the quality of finished water for criteria levels A and B; at least once every two years for testing the quality of finished water for criteria level C.

2. Sudden inspections: when there are doubts about the quality of finished water based on periodic and sudden reports on hygiene and water quality conditions from water supply facilities; when environmental incidents occur that may affect water hygiene and quality; when hygiene and water quality inspection results or epidemiological investigations indicate a risk of water contamination; when there are complaints from organizations, individuals regarding water quality or when there are special requirements.

Article 15. Cases Where Hygiene and Water Quality Are Not Ensured

In cases where external inspections, monitoring, and supervision reveal that the hygiene and water quality of water supply facilities do not meet regulations, competent state authorities shall take the following actions:

1. Require water supply facilities to immediately address the causes of non-compliance with hygiene and water quality standards and report the results of such corrections.

2. Monitor the corrective actions of water supply facilities. If the issues cannot be resolved, report or notify the local government where the water supply facility is located to implement measures to resolve the issue or consider suspending production and water supply activities.

Article 16. Quantity and Sampling Locations for Water Testing (applicable to both internal and external inspections)

1. Each time testing is conducted, at least three samples of finished water from the water supply facility shall be taken.

2. Sampling locations: one sample at the storage tank after treatment at the water supply facility before being introduced into the distribution pipeline network, one sample at a randomly selected tap on the distribution pipeline network (including water distribution means such as water tankers or water-carrying boats), and one sample at a randomly selected tap at the end of the distribution pipeline network.

3. An additional one supplementary sample shall be taken within the distribution pipeline network for centralized water supply facilities serving 100,000 people or more, and for every additional 100,000 people, one additional sample shall be taken for testing.

4. Depending on the actual situation of each locality (population, water supply system, economic conditions, testing capacity, risk of water source pollution, disease prevalence), the number of water samples taken for testing may be increased.

Chapter III

HOUSEHOLD WATER SANITATION AND QUALITY CHECKS

Article 17. Inspection of Intake Water and Flowing Water

1. Scope of inspection: within a minimum distance of 100 meters upstream from the water intake point.

2. Content of Inspection:

a) Domestic activities (such as bathing, washing); production, resource extraction, mineral exploitation;

b) Aquaculture activities;

c) Livestock, poultry, or other animals coming to bathe or drink water;

d) Waste, garbage, wastewater from production, business, and domestic activities;

đ) Water conveyance, storage devices, and water collection tools.

3. Evaluation method: according to the Household Water Source Sanitation Inspection Form specified in Model No. 03 - Appendix No. 02 issued together with this Circular.

Article 18. Inspection of Dug Wells and Drilled Wells

1. Scope of inspection: within a minimum radius of 10 meters from the center of the well.

2. Content of Inspection:

a) Well cover, well wall, well collar, well shaft (well body), well yard;

b) Water collection tools;

c) Drainage ditch and wastewater discharge points;

d) Latrines, livestock sheds;

đ) Garbage dumpsites and other pollution sources;

e) Water pump equipment (if available).

3. Evaluation method: according to the Household Water Source Sanitation Inspection Form specified in Model No. 03 - Appendix No. 02 issued together with this Circular.

Article 19. Inspection of Rainwater Collection Systems and Storage Methods Such as Tanks, Pots, Jars, Barrels, and Large Jars

1. Inspection content:

a) Rainwater collection surface and gutters;

b) Trash boxes or filters;

c) Tank cover; tank walls; hygiene condition inside the tank;

d) Water collection tools.

2. Evaluation method: according to the Household Water Source Sanitation Inspection Form specified in Model No. 03 - Appendix No. 02 issued together with this Circular.

Article 20. Inspection of Water Treatment Areas (if applicable)

1. Content of inspection: current hygiene status of household water treatment areas such as rainwater racks, filtration tanks, materials in filtration tanks, water storage and collection tools after treatment.

2. Evaluation method: according to the Household Water Source Sanitation Inspection Form specified in Model No. 03 - Appendix No. 02 issued together with this Circular.

Article 21. Inspection of Water Hygiene and Quality

1. Pre-use water quality inspection: to be carried out by households themselves.

2. Periodic and spot inspections:

a) To be conducted by state agencies with competent authority;

b) Depending on the actual situation of the locality (population; geographical and economic conditions; human resources; testing capacity, risk of water source pollution, disease prevalence), state agencies with competent authority shall decide the number of households to be inspected in the area and the frequency of inspections.

3. Content of inspection:

a) Inspection of water extraction sites and water treatment areas;

b) Water quality testing: collect water samples from household taps or water storage containers and test them in laboratories certified to meet ISO/IEC 17025: 2005 standards for water quality indicators tested. The testing criteria are implemented according to the National Technical Regulation on Drinking Water Quality issued by the Ministry of Health.

Article 22. Cases where hygiene and water quality are not guaranteed

In cases where household hygiene and water quality are not guaranteed, households must immediately take measures to address the issue. If the problem cannot be resolved, households must stop using the non-compliant water source and promptly inform the People's Committee of the commune where they reside for appropriate action.

Chapter IV

INFORMATION AND REPORTING REGIME

Article 23. Announcing information on finished water hygiene and quality

1. Announcing internal testing results:

a) Content of announcement: Immediately after receiving the results of regular or sudden tests of finished water quality, the water supply facility must compile a summary of the following test results to announce the quality of finished water:

- Total number of samples tested.

- Total number of samples meeting standards.

- Total number of test indicators.

- Total number of indicators meeting standards.

- Indicators that did not meet standards: total number of indicators, test results, sampling location.

- Measures and time frame for rectification in cases where hygiene and water quality standards are not met.

It is encouraged for water supply facilities to announce detailed information on all test results of water quality indicators.

b) Form of announcement: Within three days after obtaining the results, the water supply facility must post the test results of water quality at the entrance of the water supply facility and through one of the following methods:

- Announcing water quality test results on the electronic information page of the water supply facility or the managing authority (if applicable).

- Publishing water quality test results on mass media.

2. Notifying and announcing external inspection results on hygiene and water quality:

a) External inspection results on hygiene and water quality shall be notified in writing to:

- The inspected entity.

- The managing authority of the inspected entity and local state management agencies with jurisdiction.

b) External inspection results on hygiene and water quality shall be announced on the electronic information page of the competent state agency, water supply facility, or managing authority (if applicable).

Article 24. Reporting system

b) Agencies and organizations under the management of the district People's Committee that implement HIV/AIDS prevention and control activities report quarterly and annually on intervention activities to reduce harm, HIV testing counseling, HIV/AIDS prevention and control communication, methadone substitution therapy for opiate addiction treatment, antiretroviral therapy (ART) management, co-infection management between HIV and Tuberculosis and Hepatitis C, mother-to-child transmission prevention, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and high-risk population counts according to corresponding forms specified in Appendices 2 and 3 attached to this Circular.

a) Water supply facilities shall submit reports in writing according to the contents specified in Appendix No. 03 issued together with this Circular and report using the water quality monitoring software established by the competent authority of the Ministry of Health.

- For water supply facilities with a designed capacity below 1,000 m³/day-night: test at least once every three months for level A criteria; test at least once every six months for level B criteria.³/day night or more: monthly report to the Provincial Preventive Health Center and the competent state management agency where the water supply facility is located.

2. Unannounced inspections: when there are environmental incidents; when water source hygiene inspections indicate a risk of contamination; when risks arise during production that may affect finished water quality; or when special requirements exist.³/day night: quarterly report to the Provincial Preventive Health Center or District Health Center performing preventive health functions and the competent state management agency where the water supply facility is located.

b) Commune Health Stations shall submit reports in writing to the Provincial Preventive Health Center or District Health Center performing preventive health functions according to the contents specified in Model No. 01 - Appendix No. 04 issued together with this Circular;

c) Provincial Preventive Health Centers or District Health Centers performing preventive health functions shall submit reports in writing to the Provincial Preventive Health Center according to the contents specified in Model No. 02 - Appendix No. 04 issued together with this Circular;

d) Provincial Preventive Health Centers shall submit reports in writing to the Department of Health of the province, centrally-administered city (hereinafter referred to as the Department of Health of the province), specialized institutes responsible for the region (one of the institutes: Institute of Occupational Health and Environment, West Central Hygiene and Epidemiology Institute, Pasteur Institute Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City Public Health Institute) and the Department of Environmental Health Management - Ministry of Health according to the contents specified in Models No. 03 and No. 04 - Appendix No. 04 issued together with this Circular and report using the water quality monitoring software established by the competent authority of the Ministry of Health;

đ) Specialized institutes responsible for the region (Institute of Occupational Health and Environment, West Central Hygiene and Epidemiology Institute, Pasteur Institute Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City Public Health Institute) shall report to the Department of Environmental Health Management according to the contents specified in Model No. 05 - Appendix No. 04 issued together with this Circular and report using the water quality monitoring software.

2. Reporting time:

a) Monthly reports are calculated from the 1st to the last day of the month;

b) Quarterly reports are calculated from the 1st to the last day of March, June, September, and December;

c) Annual reports are calculated from January 1st to December 31st of each year.

3. Deadline for submitting reports:

a) Deadline for submitting periodic monthly reports:

The water supply facility with a design capacity of 1,000 m³/day night or more must submit the report to the Provincial Preventive Health Center within seven working days after closing the books.

b) Deadline for submitting periodic quarterly reports:

- The water supply facility with a design capacity under 1,000 m³/day night must submit the report to the Provincial Preventive Health Center or District Health Center performing preventive health functions within five working days after closing the books.

- The Provincial Preventive Health Center or District Health Center performing preventive health functions must submit the report to the Provincial Preventive Health Center within ten working days after closing the books, and send a copy to the District Health Office for reporting.

- The Provincial Preventive Health Center must submit the report to the Department of Environmental Health Management - Ministry of Health, Department of Health of the province, and specialized institutes responsible for the region within fifteen working days after closing the books for reporting.

c) Deadline for submitting annual reports:

- Commune Health Stations must submit the periodic report to the District Health Center within five working days after closing the books, and send a copy to the District Health Office for reporting.

- The Provincial Preventive Health Center or District Health Center performing preventive health functions must submit the report to the Provincial Preventive Health Center within ten working days after closing the books, and send a copy to the District Health Office for reporting.

- The Provincial Preventive Health Center must submit the report to the Department of Environmental Health Management - Ministry of Health, Department of Health of the province, and specialized institutes responsible for the region within fifteen working days after closing the books for reporting.

- Not later than twenty working days from the date of closing the books, the specialized institutes in the region shall submit reports to the Health Environment Management Department - Ministry of Health.

d) Time for submitting emergency reports:

Reports shall be submitted by telephone, fax, or email within 24 hours and in writing within 72 hours from the time the emergency issue arises. In cases where reports are required by superiors, they shall be submitted strictly according to the time specified by the superiors.

Chapter V

IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

Article 25. Effective Date

1. This Circular takes effect from March 1, 2016.

2. This Circular replaces the guidance on water quality inspection and drinking water hygiene inspection set forth in Circular No. 15/2006/TT-BYT dated November 30, 2006 issued by the Minister of Health regarding the inspection of drinking water hygiene and household latrines; the frequency of regular monitoring carried out by competent authorities as stipulated in Point b Clause 1 and Point b Clause 2 Section II Part III Monitoring System of National Technical Regulation on Drinking Water Quality issued pursuant to Circular No. 04/2009/TT-BYT dated June 17, 2009 issued by the Minister of Health; the frequency of regular monitoring carried out by competent authorities as stipulated in Point b Clause 1 and Point b Clause 2 Section II Part III Monitoring System of National Technical Regulation on Domestic Water Quality issued pursuant to Circular No. 05/2009/TT-BYT dated June 17, 2009 issued by the Minister of Health.

When legal normative documents referred to in this Circular are replaced or amended by other documents, the relevant contents in this Circular will be applied and adjusted according to the newly issued documents.

In cases where referenced documents in this Circular are replaced or amended, implementation shall follow the replacement document or the amended document.

Article 27. Implementation Organization

1. The Health Environment Management Department, Ministry of Health shall be responsible for:

a) Managing, directing, urging, guiding, inspecting, supervising water hygiene and quality inspection activities for drinking water and domestic water throughout the country;

b) Organizing the development, amendment, supplementation, and submission to the competent authority for issuance of guiding documents, standards, and technical regulations related to water hygiene and quality inspection for drinking water and domestic water;

c) Compiling information on water quality and reporting annually on the supervision and inspection work of water hygiene and quality for drinking water and domestic water of localities to the Ministry of Health leadership;

d) Taking the lead and coordinating with competent state agencies under the Ministry of Construction and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to perform state management functions in issuing drinking water and domestic water supply, organizing joint inspections and supervision of the implementation of regulations ensuring hygiene and quality of drinking water and domestic water by water supply facilities.

2. The Institutes of Occupational Health and Environment, West Central Health Institute, Nha Trang Pasteur Institute, Ho Chi Minh City Public Health Institute shall be responsible for:

a) Summarizing, analyzing, and reporting the situation of hygiene and quality of drinking water and domestic water in the provinces under their jurisdiction to develop plans for technical support;

b) Studying and proposing technical solutions for water hygiene and quality inspection work; measures to ensure the safety of water sources;

c) Guiding localities on technical expertise for water hygiene and quality inspection work;

d) Conducting hygiene and quality inspections of drinking water and domestic water when natural disasters, catastrophes, epidemics occur, or upon request.

3. The Provincial Health Departments shall be responsible for:

a) Directing subordinate units to carry out inspections and supervision of water hygiene and quality for drinking water, domestic water, and household water in the province;

b) Organizing inspections and supervision or taking the lead and coordinating with competent state management agencies to organize periodic and emergency inspections and supervision of water hygiene and quality for drinking water and domestic water provided by facilities in the province;

c) Ensuring human resources, equipment, and budget allocation (in the annual budget) for the implementation of inspections, supervision of water hygiene and quality for drinking water, domestic water, and household water in the province.

4. The Provincial Preventive Health Centers shall be responsible for:

a) Carrying out regular and emergency external inspections of water hygiene and quality of all water supply facilities with a design capacity of 1,000 m³/day-night or more in the province;

b) Cooperating with District Preventive Health Centers or District Health Centers to carry out preventive health functions, conducting regular and emergency external inspections of water hygiene and quality of water supply facilities with a design capacity below 1,000 m³/day-night and household water supply in the area;

c) Developing annual plans and budgets for organizing water hygiene and quality inspection activities for drinking water, domestic water, and household water and submitting them for approval by the competent authority.

5. The Preventive Health Center or District Health Center performing preventive health functions shall be responsible for:

a) Carrying out regular and emergency external inspections of water hygiene and quality of all water supply facilities with a design capacity below 1,000 m³/day-night;

b) Cooperating with Commune Health Stations to conduct emergency inspections of general hygiene conditions for household water supply methods in the area;

c) Developing annual plans and budgets for organizing water hygiene and quality inspection activities for drinking water and domestic water and submitting them for approval by the competent authority.

6. The Commune Health Stations shall be responsible for:

a) Conducting regular and emergency inspections of general hygiene conditions for household water supply methods in the managed area;

b) Developing annual plans and budgets for organizing activities to inspect the hygiene conditions of household water supply methods and submitting them for approval by the competent authority.

7. Responsibilities of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities:

a) Reviewing, adjusting, and supplementing water supply planning to ensure clean water supply for the population; prioritizing clean water supply for areas with difficult access to water sources and contaminated water due to industrial, agricultural, and craft village activities; directing the development of safe water supply plans in the province.

b) Allocate the budget for regular and spot inspections to monitor water quality annually; invest in upgrading laboratory equipment at the Provincial Preventive Health Center to ensure its capability to conduct monitoring tests according to current regulations;

c) Direct relevant departments to enhance inter-departmental coordination in inspecting and checking water supply plants, facilities, reservoirs in residential areas, industrial zones, collective living areas, and households. Strictly handle violations concerning water quality according to current regulations;

d) Direct water supply facilities within their jurisdiction to strictly implement self-inspection regimes for water hygiene and quality, and take measures to ensure water quality, and publicize water quality information through mass media so that the public can be informed;

8. Water supply facilities shall be responsible for:

a) Conducting internal hygiene and water quality inspections in accordance with current regulations;

b) Announcing and reporting the results of internal hygiene and drinking water quality inspections to competent state agencies;

c) Being subject to inspection and supervision by competent state agencies;

During implementation, if there are difficulties or obstacles, they are requested to report to the Department of Environmental Health Management - Ministry of Health for consideration and resolution./.