Green tech for rural water supply and sanitation

On November 21 in Hanoi, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment held a workshop to share experiences and initiatives in applying green technology for rural water supply and sanitation.

Green technology – an inevitable trend

Mr. Nguyen Do Anh Tuan, Director of the Department of International Cooperation, affirmed that the Party and State have identified water security as a strategic priority at this stage. This is reflected in the approach to integrated water resource management, the development of modern water supply and drainage infrastructure, the maintenance of water quality, and the promotion of green growth and a circular economy.

The Director emphasized that rural areas, home to the majority of the national population, play a central role in achieving these major goals. However, the rural water supply and sanitation sector faces numerous challenges, including declining water sources, pollution from production and daily life, salinity intrusion, drought, outdated infrastructure, and limited technology and resources. “These issues require a new mindset and approach, in which green technology must become the core driver to reduce emissions, save energy, improve operational efficiency, and enhance system resilience to climate change and natural disasters,” Mr. Tuan stated.

Sharing the same perspective, Mr. Luong Van Anh, Deputy Director of the Department of Water Resources Management and Construction, said at the workshop that given these new requirements, applying green technology, renewable energy, and smart water management is an inevitable trend. National strategies, from the Green Growth Strategy to the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Strategy and the Circular Economy Development Project, clearly confirm this.

Mr. Luong Van Anh emphasized that the workshop is an opportunity to review practical experiences, share successful models, and discuss technical solutions suitable for implementing green technology. It is also an important forum for central and local authorities, enterprises, and international organizations to propose policies to expand effective models, especially in the process of drafting the Law on Water Supply and Drainage and the Decree on Rural Drinking Water Supply.

Promoting green transformation through modern water supply solutions and models

Recently, many pilot models, especially solar-powered projects supported by UNICEF, have proven effective in reducing operating costs, increasing sustainability, and ensuring safe water supply for residents. Additionally, initiatives such as source-separated waste management, wastewater treatment, and water loss management technology are being implemented effectively in many localities.

Notably, in green technology solutions, the Tan A Dai Thanh Group has researched converting the inner tank of solar water heaters from stainless steel to PPR (Polypropylene Random Copolymer) to overcome corrosion caused by acidic or saline water. PPR plastic withstands temperatures up to 100°C, is durable, has a service life of over 30 years, and ensures the safety of drinking water.

The PLASMAN multi-layer extrusion technology allows for the production of PPR tanks with up to six layers, ensuring product tightness and durability. This advanced technology, already applied in Europe for thermal energy storage, has been tested to demonstrate that PPR solar water heater tanks operate stably, maintaining water at 65°C under mild sunlight and reaching 100°C under strong sunlight. After continuous hours of operation, the plastic tank maintains its shape and shows no leakage, demonstrating good adaptation to riverine conditions and high solar intensity.

Independent laboratory analysis confirmed the absence of heavy metals and toxic compounds, ensuring compliance with water safety standards. The product has been practically installed in many households in Ca Mau, Ben Tre, Soc Trang, and Tra Vinh.

Another highlight is the use of Polyol insulating foam containing Cyclopentane instead of HCFC-141b, which depletes the ozone layer. Cyclopentane reduces greenhouse gas emissions and enhances the thermal retention of PU material. This initiative was recognized by the World Bank and the Department of Climate Change (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Vietnam) in 2023, contributing to promoting green technology development in rural water supply and sanitation.

At the workshop, delegates also focused on sharing four typical groups of green technology solutions in rural water supply and sanitation that many localities are interested in: applying renewable energy and energy-saving devices in rural water supply; technologies for treating acidic, saline, and other specific water pollution in climate-affected areas; digital solutions to monitor networks, reduce water loss, and improve service efficiency; and climate-adaptive rural sanitation models and circular waste management. The workshop also received many policy input suggestions from research institutes, experts, enterprises, and development organizations.

The solutions shared at the workshop show that green technology is gradually entering rural life, from treating acidic and saline water, applying renewable energy in water supply, to managing losses and processing waste in a circular model. This is an important foundation for achieving the goal that all rural residents have access to clean water and safe, sustainable sanitation services.

Recently, the rural water supply and sanitation sector has achieved encouraging results. Currently, 68% of rural households have access to water that meets standards, with 60% supplied by centralized systems and 8% by household-level systems. These results contribute significantly to improving public health, ensuring social welfare, and achieving the Government’s sustainable development goals.