Building smart water supply ecosystem and sustainable water economy

Digital transformation: A lever to enhance rural clean water quality

Digital transformation in the clean water supply sector is becoming an inevitable trend, contributing to innovative management methods and improving the operational efficiency of water systems.

In Vinh Long province, this process has been implemented early, driven by the efforts of the Rural Clean Water Center after the merger of the clean water centers of three provinces: Vinh Long, Tra Vinh, and Ben Tre.

The center currently manages 237 centralized water supply facilities with a total capacity of 237,400 m3 per day, serving approximately 482,000 customers, mainly rural residents. More than 760 staff members, engineers, and technicians, of whom nearly 630 work directly at water supply stations, are responsible for operating, maintaining, and ensuring the stable performance of the province’s entire water supply system.

At the forum on "The role of rural clean water and sanitation in sustainable agricultural development and building a civilized countryside" held on the morning of October 16, Mr. Chau Van Tung, Deputy Director of the Vinh Long Rural Clean Water Center, shared some initial results in applying digital transformation to rural water supply, as well as the orientations and challenges for the coming time.

According to Mr. Tung, digital transformation in the water supply sector is not merely about applying technology but also about reshaping mindsets, operational methods, and organizational structures to enhance service quality and ensure a safe and stable clean water supply for rural residents.

Over the years, the unit has been implementing steps toward digital transformation in managing and operating its water supply systems. At several large-scale stations, the center has invested in automatic monitoring systems for water quality, applying IoT technologies to track water pressure and turbidity in real time. This data has improved quality control, prevented pollution risks, and supported efficient operations with reduced energy consumption.

In parallel, the center has adopted a customer management software system to simplify the process of receiving, processing, and responding to user feedback. These initiatives lay the foundation for developing a “Smart Water Management” model. This is an integrated ecosystem of data, operational technology, and digital platforms.

However, the process still faces various challenges, particularly in terms of investment capital, digital workforce capacity, and data security. The characteristics of rural areas also pose difficulties for residents in accessing and using digital technologies. To address this, the center has worked with local authorities to conduct communication campaigns and guide residents in using digital tools related to clean water services.

In the coming period, the Vinh Long Rural Water Supply Center plans to learn from the experiences of other localities and strengthen cooperation with digital infrastructure enterprises to update and apply suitable technological solutions. According to Mr. Chau Van Tung, the two key factors for expanding digital transformation are adequate funding and a well-trained technical workforce.

At the forum, Mr. Vu Minh Viet, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Vietnam Agriculture&Nature Newspaper, added that effective digital transformation requires synchronized investment in technology, equipment, and operational processes, as well as sufficient time for testing, staff training, and establishing long-term data maintenance mechanisms.

Water resource management towards a sustainable and economic approach

At the forum, Mr. Tran Quang Hung, General Director of the Southern Irrigation Company, proposed developing a water economy as a long-term and sustainable solution amid growing pressures on water resources from climate change, urbanization, and shifting production structures.

According to Mr. Hung, water should be viewed not only as an essential resource for daily life and production but also as an economic asset that must be planned, invested in, utilized, and protected efficiently and sustainably.

Drawing from practical experience in the Mekong Delta, he noted that the Southern Irrigation Exploitation Company has been actively applying technology and digital transformation in water quality management, water supply operations, and reservoir monitoring.

Currently, more than 20 automatic monitoring stations have been deployed, enabling continuous water quality tracking and timely responses to emergency situations.

At the same time, the unit has applied smart technologies in the operation of irrigation works, integrating databases to improve monitoring efficiency and support faster, more accurate decision-making.

Regarding planning, Mr. Hung emphasized the importance of establishing ecological belts around water reservoirs, consisting of forest areas, eco-tourism models, and buffer zones to reduce pollution. These not only help protect water sources in the long term but also create additional livelihood opportunities for local communities.

Facing the risk of water shortages during the dry season, he proposed building high-altitude reservoirs to use natural topography for gravity-based water distribution to lower areas, thereby saving energy and enhancing water supply autonomy. He also recommended shifting from a single-sector approach to a multi-sectoral water-use mindset, prioritizing water for domestic, industrial, and high-value service uses, while applying technology to save and reuse water in agriculture.

Finally, Mr. Hung stressed that the stability and quality of water sources must be a top priority in development planning. Areas with favorable water resources should be prioritized in land-use planning, accompanied by policies encouraging private investment in rural and peri-urban water supply infrastructure.