Illegal wells are a problem in many developing countries, including China and India. Among the problems cited in this article, they make it difficult for governments to not only plan a sensible water use policy but they can also make it difficult for water companies to recoup on their investment. (see the article on Suez's business problems in northeastern China for an example.http://chinawaterblog.blogspot.com/2008/05/on-february-29-2008-i-wrote-following.html )
In some places rainharvesting is being used to replenish the aquifer and wells, but this too can increase the risk of well contamination unless done very carefully.
Peter Huston
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http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/showarticle.php?num=03SOC300508
Illegal wells damage water supply
(30-05-2008)
Illegal drilling is depleting and polluting Ha Noi’s underground water sources.
by Ngoc Tu
Illegal wells used in homes and businesses are depleting and polluting underground water sources. — VNS Photo
HA NOI — Illegal tapping into Ha Noi’s natural underground water system has polluted supplies and greatly reduced the volume available.
Medical authorities have also warned that the polluted water could lead to health problems, including warts and dry skin.
They have also reported that some restaurants and brewing companies have been producing bottled water and beer using untreated supplies.
While there seem to be enough regulations to control the problem, reports indicate too much red tape and a shortage of inspectors have hampered the process.
A report from the Viet Nam Department of Geology and Minerals states there are about 20,000 illegal wells throughout the city.
Drilled to an average depth of between 20 and 25m, they have an estimated total capacity of 35,000 cu.m a day.
Deputy director of the Ha Noi Clean Water Company Trinh Kim Giang said he was worried about the thousands of illegal wells because they could lower the subterranean water level, which has a depth of between 60 and 80m.
"Many business units, including car wash and laundries, have illegally drilled wells to reduce costs," he said.
Giang said many families stopped using the wells after being connected to the Clean Water Company’s water system.
However, he said they often filled the wells incorrectly, causing pollution. The wells acted as conduits, leading waste substances to the underground water supplies.
The problem has been made worse because many household wells have been built near toilets and pigsties.
"The company once used 0.3mg of chlorine to purify one litre of water. The rate has now increased to 0.8mg per litre," Giang said.
Research by the Health Ministry’s Preventive Medicine Department shows that throughout Viet Nam more than 17 million people, or more than a fifth of the population, are in danger of becoming affected by polluted underground water.
Sometimes, in provinces such as Ha Tay and Ha Nam, water has an arsenic content of more than 0.05mg per litre, almost double the safe level.
Flouting the law
Deputy director of the Water Resource Management Division, Hoang Van Bay, said drilling firms were required to have permits and business licences.
However, Bay said many operators ignored these procedures. According to water-resource regulations, those caught drilling illegally could be fined between VND10 million (US$602) and VND14 million.
The Ha Noi Natural Resources and Environment Department says that it has had decentralised drilling permits and moved distribution to the district level. District authorities now have the right to grant licences for wells producing no more than 200cu.m of water a day.
A department official said it was difficult to find illegal wells because many were hidden within the boundaries of homes and businesses. Even the supervision of wells with licences was incomplete.
Tran Dac Phu, deputy director of the Health Ministry’s Preventive Medicine Department, said the department’s employees were responsible for checking water quality, but they did not have the right to issue fines.
Phu said if violations were discovered, they would ask ministry inspectors to handle the case or set up a delegation to inspect the quality of water.
However, this always took a long time due to administrative procedures. — VNS
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