Vangvieng officials voice concern over untreated effluent in river
Vangvieng officials voice concern over untreated effluent in river
The Nam Xong River may soon be giving off a bad smell and harming the plants and animals that depend on the river for t heir survival if there is no change in the amount of untreated wastewater that is discharged into the river every day.
Deputy Head of the Vangvieng Development and Administration Authority (VVDAA), Ms Sor Bounmany, expressed her concern about the situation, saying they had been waiting for a long time for the government to provide funding.
“The VVDAA has sent in a proposal every year since 2011, asking for funds from the government to install proper drainage and wastewater treatment but the funding has still not been approved,” she said.
Ms Sor said that every day, local people as well as business operations along the river discharge their wastewater through storm drains that are intended for heavy rain, not for wastewater, as there is no treatment involved.
The Nam Xong river is fast flowing in the rainy season so water quality is affected only slightly at that time. The problem arises in the dry season when the water flow is greatly diminished.
This could be a potential health hazard as contaminants could attach to a person's skin and bacteria could enter the body through any openings or skin lesions. A bad smell from the river is also likely to discourage tourists.
With the seasonal decline in the number of visitors, the problem may be less serious as the amount of effluent in the river is lower, but if the district doesn't do something now to overcome this problem it may well be too late.
The VVDAA is not itself able to seek funding through Non-Government Organisations in Laos as it is required to follow government regulations, so this year they are again making an application for government funding.
Ms Sor said she hoped the government will soon consider their request for wastewater drainage and treatment as the VVDAA believes this to be essential in order to protect the Nam Xong for the benefit of locals and tourists.
