WB to invest $231 mln in southern Vietnam water improvement

The World Bank has approved a $311 million project of improving the water environment in Binh Duong province, serving 550,000 people in southern Vietnam.

In a releast last Friday, the bank said it would finance the project with $231 million, while the remaining $80 million would come from the Vietnamese government.

The project is designed to transform wastewater management in Thuan An, Di An, and Tan Uyen towns of Binh Duong, covering more than 33,000 hectares, with a total population of around 1.4 million.

Currently, these areas have limited sewage collection and treatment capabilities. The investment will substantially expand these services, directly benefiting residents by 2032, the WB said.

The project will increase wastewater services from under 10% to 32% in Tan Uyen town, and from 17-19% to 45% in Thuan An and Di An towns. This targeted improvement in high-density urban areas is crucial for reducing pollution in the Saigon and Dong Nai rivers.

The engineering designs incorporate future climate scenarios, ensuring that the infrastructure is resilient and sustainable in the long term. This includes technical solutions that are energy-efficient and can reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Furthermore, the project integrates circular economy, such as the use of LED lighting and solar panels to reduce energy consumption, and the innovative reuse of treated sludge and wastewater to contribute to a more sustainable management of resources.

"Across Vietnam, challenges like untreated wastewater and inadequate drainage harm health and risk reducing GDP by 3.5% annually by 2035,” said Carolyn Turk, WB country director for Vietnam. “This project is an important step in creating a cleaner, healthier environment in Binh Duong province, contributing to sustainable growth and development,” she added.