A quick test on Wednesday (29 July 2009) showed the level of pollution in the Saigon River was much higher than in the previous days, according to the water plant.

The concentration of organic substances such as COD, BOD, Nitrat and Amoni at Hoa Phu Station was double some days ago, said Bui Thanh Giang, director of the water treatment plant.

Last Saturday (01 August 2009) some 230,000 cubic meters of untreated wastewater from San Miguel’s reservoir in Binh Duong Province breached its embankment, heavily polluting the Thi Tinh River, the upper affluent of the Saigon River. “The polluted water surely originates in the upper reach,” Giang told on Wednesday.

To cope with the situation, he said, the water plant had added chlorine and other chemicals to disinfect the water to ensure safety and hygiene.

Dau Tieng Water Reservoir in Tay Ninh Province has been asked to release some 70 cubic meters per second to dilute pollution.

Giang, however, said the situation was still under control. The HCMC Center for Preventive Healthcare on Wednesday took samples of water treated by Tan Hiep plant for testing and found no problems with the water. Tan Hiep has a supply capacity of some 300,000 cubic meters a day.