New Water Treatment Facility Using Reverse Osmosis Technology Opens in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

The Can Gio Water Supply Plant, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s first water treatment facility for processing salt water into clean drinking water, began operation in August 2008. The plant, which utilizes a reverse osmosis (RO) system from Severn Trent Services, will help reduce water shortages in the Can Gio district of the city, where demand for water has soared in recent years. The plant was constructed by Dang Doan Nguyen Joint Stock Co. Construction and represents the largest build/operate/transfer (BOT) RO project in Vietnam.

Attending the plant’s opening ceremonies were representatives of the Ho Chi Minh City’s Municipal People’s Committee, the Can Gio Public Services Company, Dang Doan Nguyen Joint Stock Co. and Severn Trent Services.   The Severn Trent Services UAT™ Series BW brackish water reverse osmosis membrane filtration system will reduce levels of total dissolved solids and suspended matter to serve the drinking water needs of 66,000 district residents. The new facility will supply more than 1.3 million U.S. gallons (5,000 cubic meters) of potable water per day. The facility’s capacity is scheduled to nearly double within about one year from its opening.   According to Dang Van Thien, director of Can Gio’s Public Services Company, “District residents have been using water transported on barges from nearby District 7. The Can Gio plant will help reduce transportation costs and provide an additional water source to the district, which often faces shortages during the dry season.”   Marwan Nesicolaci, vice president of international sales and business development for Severn Trent Services, said, “We are proud to be part of this historic project, which increases the availability and affordability of drinking water in a region where this vital resource is scarce. As part of our company’s industry-leading global solutions, our regional offices work closely with private investors throughout the world to provide both the latest technical solutions to water issues as well as our operations and maintenance expertise to increase water treatment efficiencies.”