Technology innovations improve urban water quality

Mastering water treatment technologies

To proactively respond to the risk of deteriorating raw water quality, Hai Phong Water Supply JSC, the city's largest clean water producer, has continuously invested in and innovated water treatment technologies. One of the highlights was the launch of a pilot low-pressure ultrafiltration membrane treatment model at Vat Cach Water Plant in late May 2026.

The ultrafiltration membrane technology effectively removes bacteria, algae, suspended solids and many other impurities from water. It also reduces chemical consumption, saves energy and enhances the ability to cope with fluctuations in the water source.

Hai Phong Clean Water Business No. 2 JSC is also accelerating digital transformation and modernizing the water supply infrastructure within its management area. In 2026, the company worked with a technology consulting firm to study a real-time data acquisition, monitoring and control model to support internal monitoring and water supply system management.

According to the Department of Construction, in 2025, 100% of water samples supplied to the central urban area met the National Technical Standard (QCVN 01-1:2024) and the Local Technical Standard on the quality of clean water for domestic use. The average turbidity of treated water was only 0.14 NTU, far below the permissible limit, while no Coliform bacteria were detected in any of the tested samples.

Building a smart water supply system

Along with upgrading treatment technologies, water utilities in the city are accelerating the development of a smart water supply system through digital transformation platforms.

At present, the raw water quality monitoring system operates 24 hours a day through automatic monitoring stations, online analytical equipment, biological indicator fish tanks, and source water protection measures such as oil containment booms and biological water hyacinths. All data are transmitted to a central control center, enabling continuous monitoring of changes in the quality of the water source, early detection of pollution risks, and timely adjustments to treatment processes.

The utilities have actively expanded the application of SCADA, GIS, artificial intelligence, and big data analytics in managing water supply networks. These technologies help monitor pipeline pressure, issue abnormality alerts, detect leaks, reduce water losses, and optimize the operation of the entire system.

Notably, Hai Phong Water Supply JSC has developed a smart water meter application and customer management software, helping improve service quality and shorten the time required to process customer requests. To date, more than 305,000 water service points have installed the "Hai Phong Water Supply" application, while 100% of customers pay their water bills electronically.

According to Nguyen Thanh Hung, Director of the Department of Construction, during the 2026 - 2030 period, water utilities in the city will continue working together to build a smart water supply system by gradually connecting operational data, expanding the deployment of smart water meters, and applying artificial intelligence to analyze water consumption data, forecast water demand, and provide early warnings of incidents across the network.

Synchronizing digital infrastructure will help improve service quality, reduce water losses, and build a safe and sustainable water supply system that meets Hai Phong's development needs as it moves toward becoming a special-class city.

NGUYEN DUONG