Soc Trang Water Supply Joint Stock Company has been asking for permission from the People’s Committee of Soc Trang Province in southern Vietnam to build a surface water treatment and exploitation plant at a cost of VND3 trillion (US$121 million) to supply clean water to locals amidst severe saltwater intrusion.

Upon completion, the plant project will cover 110 hectares and have a capacity of 200,000 cubic meters a day.

The leaders of Soc Trang Water Supply Joint Stock Company and Soc Trang One Member Liability Forestry Limited Company conducted an on-site survey at a location in Ho Dac Kien Commune, Chau Thanh District on Wednesday.

The land lot which could be used to build the plant is far from saltwater intrusion-hit areas, said Dang Van Ngo, general director of Soc Trang Water Supply Joint Stock Company.

The plant will be some 20 kilometers from Soc Trang City, the provincial capital, to make it easier for the installation of pipes, he underlined.

If the People's Committee grants the permission, the plant will commence operations two to three years following its construction, Ngo said, adding this timeline is designed to guarantee an ample supply of clean water for the province.

Ngo said that the surveyed location has an abundance of surface water.

"After the plant begins operations, we plan to decrease the extraction of underground water," he added.

His company is running 24 underground water treatment plants and stations with a combined capacity of 98,000 cubic meters per day or night.

Since the start of the year, saline intrusion has worsened in Soc Trang Province, he said.

Surface and underground water has been hit by salt water, taking a heavy toll on the supply of clean water to residents.

“We are working to properly supply clean water to customers despite difficulties in dealing with saltwater intrusion,” Ngo noted.

He also called on residents to save water.

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