Improving Vietnam’s Water

Challenge

Ho Chi Minh City’s original urban drainage and sewerage system (combined system) was constructed in the 1870s. Although it had been improved from the 1950s through to 1975, the old facilities were designed for a population of 1.5 million, far less than the present population of more than 8 million. With far greater paved areas, floods had become commonplace during the monsoon.

In addition, some 729,000 m³ of raw domestic and industrial wastewater was discharged daily to rivers and canals. The pollution load had degraded the water quality of rivers and canals to an unacceptable level.

Hence, the government of Vietnam requested the Japanese government to design and construct new treatment facilities.

OC Global conducted the master plan, feasibility study, basic design and detailed design of this project from 1998. In 2002, we started work as a project management consultant and assisted the client through the modification of the detailed design and the bidding process. Our services were as follows:

• Updating and supplementing the detailed design prepared in the previous stage
• Finalization of the detailed design, quantity and cost estimation, and tendering documentation
• Assistance in prequalification process
• Study on institutional development
• Technology transfer on sewerage operations
• Coordination with the client and JICA
• Construction supervision

• Sewage treatment plant: Total capacity= 141,000 m³/ day, modified aeration process
• Sewage pumping station: Q= 133.3 m³/min
• Canal improvement: Dredging 481,800 m³/min; revetment: 5,660 m
• Interceptor sewers: Main ⌀300-2200 mm, L= 6,406 m; secondary ⌀300-900 mm, L= 3,519 m
• Conveyance sewers: Double-cell reinforced concrete box culvert (1.3 m x 1.2 m x 2), L= 3,480 m
• Improvement of existing combined sewers: L= 9.8 km
• Flood improvement area: 132 ha [incl. two pumping stations (Q= 42 m³/min x 2 sites)]