Groundwater that is not treated is easily contaminated with arsenic.

(06/05/2025 - Views: 7)

The data was presented in a research project on the distribution of arsenic (As) in soil and water in Hanoi, conducted by the Irrigation Department (Ministry of Agriculture), the Department of Science and Technology of the city just inspected.According to the new standard announced in 2002 by the Ministry of Health, the level of As in drinking water below 0.01 mg/l meets the requirements, compared to the old standard of 0.05 mg/l. Based on this standard, surface water in the city (ponds, rivers...) is insignificantly polluted. Nearly 96% of the total of 96 analyzed samples meet the standard. However, since all of Hanoi's domestic water is taken from groundwater, assessing the As levels in groundwater now has a decisive nature.The results of a survey of over 3,000 households show that, in central Hanoi, most families use clean water from the city's water supply system. This type of water has been treated to ensure quality for household consumption. In the outskirts, places with centralized water supply stations, the water sources contaminated with As are also negligible. However, concerns arise when families use drilled wells through simple household treatment systems (As contamination rate of about 5%) or no treatment at all (contamination rate of 26%).Currently, no diseases related to arsenic have been detected in Vietnam, but according to many global studies, people who consume arsenic-contaminated water regularly will have symptoms such as dark spots on the body or extremities, sometimes causing tissue necrosis on the tongue or hornification on the hands, feet. Arsenic can cause liver, lung, bladder, and kidney cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure...Therefore, researchers recommend utilizing iron treatment technology in groundwater today to remove arsenic. Families without access to tap water and relying on drilled wells should treat water using aeration, sand filters, settling tanks, filtration… to remove iron and arsenic from the water.In the past, there have been many studies on arsenic pollution in Hanoi. However, the survey by the Irrigation Department is the most systematic and detailed project. It has circumscribed areas with arsenic pollution in the city, providing convenient conditions for planning water exploitation and use projects. According to the survey, groundwater in most districts of the city (except Soc Son) shows signs of arsenic contamination, with areas at higher risk being the southern part of the city and Gia Lam.Mr. Do Hoang An, Vice Chairman of Hanoi City People's Committee, Chairman of the Inspection Council, suggested that researchers should analyze in more depth areas that need to restrict groundwater exploitation and provide more assessments in the north of the Red River (scarcely mentioned in the report), as well as propose stronger, more detailed solutions for thorough arsenic treatment. Mr. An also mentioned considering upgrading current water treatment plants to combine iron, arsenic, ammonia treatment without separating individual treatment categories, which can be costly.Reference: Thiết bị lọc nước máy nhiễm sắt, asen, mangan, Thiết bị lọc nước giếng khoan gia đình, Thiết bị lọc nước giếng khoan công nghiệp.