Environmental basin of the Dong Nai river system has a special importance for sustainable development in 11 provinces, including Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Lam Dong , Dak Lak, Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, Tay Ninh, Long An.
The Dong Nai river system supplies water for living and agricultural and industrial production. At the same time, Dong Nai river system receives agricultural, industrial and hospital waste waters and part of solid urban waste. However, the water pollution in the river basin is increasing at an alarming rate. Therefore, the environment protection in the Dong Nai River is an urgent problem nowadays.
The latest data monitored by the Center of Dong Nai Environment Engineering and Monitoring in more than 100 sites in rivers, streams and lakes in the province of Dong Nai has showed that in many places, water is heavily contaminated. It is estimated that urban areas and businesses along the basin of Dong Nai river system release approximately 5 million m3 of waste water per day with a total of 600,000kg BOD, 1.1 million kg COD, 200.000kg nitrogen, and 760,000kg SS. Therefore, Dong Nai river’s water quality can not meet standards of water supply for daily life. Especially, the Thi Vai river’s water sources do not meet standards for aquaculture production.
To minimize pollution on Dong Nai River, in 2003, the former Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Mai Ai Truc met leaders of 11 provinces to make immediate measures to restore Dong Nai River’s environment. Many solutions to improve water quality in the river have been carried out, The Prime Minister has signed Decision N. 187 on environmental protection of Dong Nai river system to 2020. According to this Decision, the provinces in the river basin to the year 2010 have improved effectively environment quality and water quality of the Dong Nai river system. Specifically, 80% of industrial zone, export processing zones collected 90% of domestic waste, 90% of industrial solid waste, 70% of hazardous waste and 100% of medical waste. To achieve this goal, the total cost will be 2,000 trillion. Currently, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is also trying to protect the basin of the Dong Nai river system by submitting to the Government a draft decree promulgating the list of prohibited and restricted investment areas on river basins. At the same time, the Ministry proposed to find the measures to improve the human resources and management mechanisms.
In addition to the above policies, according to Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Bui Cach Tuyen, provinces and cities in the basin in the basin should urgently build implementation plan and allocate adequate funds to accelerate construction of treatment facilities of wastewater, solid waste in urban areas, industrial zones and industrial clusters. In particular, it is urgently to unify coordination mechanism among provinces and cities in the basin, avoiding the conflicts in the basin. To do this, the Dong Nai river system would be escaped from pollution.