loading map...
Fast Facts
Water management
Adaptation to climate change
Country
Vietnam
Funding period
01.02.2019 - 31.12.2022
Funding volume
2.296.331 €
Funding reference number
02WCL1472A-I
Contact

Coordinator: Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft Dresden

Contact Person: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Thomas Grischek

Address: Friedrich-List-Platz 1, 10169 Dresden

Phone: +49 351 462-3350

Email: thomas.grischek(at)htw-dresden.de

 

Project partners

  • Technische Universität Dresden
  • DVGW-Technologiezentrum Wasser, Außenstelle Dresden
  • Herbst Umwelttechnik GmbH, Berlin
  • UMEX GmbH Dresden
  • AUTARCON GmbH, Kassel
  • a.p.f. Aqua System AG, Wuppertal
  • bbe Moldaenke GmbH, Schwentinental
  • Arcadis Germany GmbH, Niederlassung Berlin

 

Project partners in Vietnam

  • Thuyloi University, Hanoi
  • Hanoi Department for Dyke Management, Flood and Storm Control, Hanoi
  • National Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Centre, Hanoi
  • Bac Ninh Water Supply and Drainage Co., Ltd., Bac Ninh
  • Hai Duong Water Supply Co., Ltd., Hai Duong
  • Bac Giang Urban Water supply and Sanitation, Bac Giang
AquaViet

Master Plan for Bank Filtration for the Drinking Water Supply in Vietnam

Drinking water treatment in Vietnam is hampered by geogenic and anthropogenic substance discharge into surface waters. This limits the performance of currently used water treatment processes. As part of a feasibility study, the German-Vietnamese research and development project AquaViet is investigating the possibilities and limitations of the process of bank filtration for the drinking water supply, which has hardly been used in Vietnam up to now. The focus is on the development of innovative approaches to water treatment through biofiltration and disinfection as well as a monitoring system.

Bank filtration in Vietnam

The drinking water supply in Vietnam is confronted with major challenges: Contamination of water by anthropogenic trace substances, pathogenic microorganisms and a high flood risk in many places complicate the treatment of surface water using conventional procedures. The primarily used methods of surface water treatment are often made difficult by turbidity peaks due to mineral and organic run-off and wastewater pollution. For groundwater treatment, high concentrations of ammonium, iron, manganese and arsenic in groundwater are problematic in many places. In addition, the overuse of groundwater resources leads to localised terrain sinking. The method of bank filtration successfully used in Germany for more than 140 years is hardly known in Vietnam. It is a cost-effective, environmentally-friendly alternative as a first step in water treatment.

AquaViet is investigating the advantages and limits of bank filtration under the difficult conditions in Vietnam on two rivers in the greater Hanoi area. The project is developing solutions for the design and operation of water production and treatment plants. The goal is the development of innovative technologies for the cost-effective treatment of raw water as well as suitable monitoring systems.

Development of effective raw water treatment

To implement the project, wells and groundwater measuring points will be installed and sampled at two demonstration sites based on a site survey in North Vietnam and a feasibility study on bank filtration. Accompanying this is a comprehensive analysis of the properties of ground and surface waters, bank filtrate and sediments with regard to organic and inorganic pollutants. This forms the basis for the development of effective raw water treatment with two main focuses: On the one hand, the focus is on the demonstration of an innovative filter system for the removal of ammonium, arsenic and other substances from the bank filtrate, possibly in combination with oxidative processes. On the other hand, the technical implementation of safe and low by-product water disinfection, e.g. with chlorination using inline electrolysis or UV, is pursued.

Water sampling at the Bac Ninh site on the Cau River, 2019 © HTW Dresden
Water sampling at the Bac Ninh site on the Cau River, 2019 © HTW Dresden, T. Grischek.

Project implementation involves a number of innovative methods. This includes the use of so-called spectroscopic fingerprints, a method for determining the origin of the water. In addition, the development of a multi-stage filter system for ammonium and manganese removal in the low price segment is planned. Furthermore, a monitoring concept for online monitoring and control of disinfection will be developed, and the use of flood relief wells for bank filtrate extraction will be tested. The use and testing of a newly developed multi-parameter probe, verification and demonstration of new environmentally-sound disinfection procedures as well as the use of UV treatment to simultaneously convert existing trace organic substances are planned for efficient disinfection based on real-time monitoring of water quality.

Exploration drilling at Ha Nam on the Red River, 2019. © Lisa Weiß
Exploration drilling at Ha Nam on the Red River, 2019. © Lisa Weiß

The joint project consists of three German and three Vietnamese research institutions as well as eleven small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), water utilities and authorities. The participation of several Vietnamese authorities and water suppliers ensures the ability to secure approval of future plants in Vietnam.

Recommendations for action and marketing potential

The study areas will considerably benefit from the operation of the bank filtration including aftertreatment and monitoring of raw water. The project results can be transferred to other suitable locations. Scientifically sound documentation of the results and proposed solutions for bank filtration in Vietnam is planned with the aim of creating a suitable regulatory framework and developing a marketing concept for the water treatment modules and monitoring technology developed and tested in the project. The marketing of individual disinfection modules and individual monitoring components (sensor, models, parameters) is also planned.