Access to and usage of clean water in peri-urban Vietnam : a case study of Gia Lam district, Hanoi

Abstract

It is broadly recognized that water plays an important role in sustainable development, especially for poverty reduction. The challenge is how to ensure water quality and quantity is adequate. Piped water is highly recommended to be used in communities because it is treated properly and can reduce exploitation of groundwater from scattered private wells. In peri- urban Vietnam, the local government of Gia Lam district in Hanoi has made a great deal of effort to set up a piped supply to communes but still usage is low. The purpose of this research is to investigate the situation of clean water usage, analyze the factors which affect to water usage in Gia Lam district and evaluate how water governance in the field works. With this, it hopes to find some solutions to improve clean water usage for the locals in the future. Findings from the research show that the level of clean water usage is not high and there is inequality in usage. The key elements which affect to clean water usage in communes which are covered by piped supply are income, the demography of households and education of household headman. Those communes without access to a piped supply are mainly geographically difficult for water mills to reach. Evaluation shows that in Gia Lam district domestic water governance does not work because it does not achieve the transparency, communication and accountability. From what has been discovered, the study discloses that to improve clean water usage in the district it is necessary to consider how to improve water governance. Also solutions are needed for the challenges affecting clean water usage for communes with and without a piped supply. The research highlights the necessity of clear mandate mechanisms through specific documents, guidelines to all levels, and responsibilities of the district government to be transparent to increase the communicative activities among stakeholders, efficiency and enhance accountability. The paper closes with the some recommendations for specialized ministries, departments, Gia Lam district government to water suppliers to facilitate the implementation of some solutions above. It calls for coordination between relevant agencies vertically and horizontally, with guidelines to Gia Lam district government to deploy water management more effectively.