Tap water in some Hanoi’s districts that was contaminated in early October is now styrene safe for consumption, local media quoted the Hanoi Department of Health's report on October 26.Accordingly, the results showed that all the water samples taken on October 25 were up to the Ministry of Health’s styrene standards.
A worker operates water tanks for residents in an apartment building in Hoang Mai district of Hanoi. Photo: Quang Thai
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The department's officials said they would continue to analyze and evaluate the water quality of Viwasupco, the supplier of tap water for several districts in the western part of Hanoi.
Earlier, Head of the Office of the municipal People's Committee Vu Dang Dinh said on October 22 afternoon that all 69 samples tested between October 16 and 21 contained styrene levels that adhered to the Ministry of Health standards.
Dinh stressed the testing will continue until the end of October and the city keeps supplying tap water from other water treatment plants to residents in the affected area. Samples are collected and tested daily.
On October 20, Hanoi’s authority established three mobile teams to conduct free water testing for residents in areas affected by styrene-contaminated tap water, part of efforts to deal with the water contamination at Viwasupco's water plant three weeks ago.
The incident began on October 8 when a truck dumped used oil into a creek which is five kilometers from the lake leading to Viwasupco's water plant.
Two days later, Hanoi residents detected an unpleasant and pungent odor in their tap water. Tests of the smelly water by authorities later found that the level of Styrene, an organic compound that is probably carcinogenic, was 1.3-3.6 times higher than normal.
Two suspects allegedly responsible for contaminating the source of Hanoi’s tap water were arrested on October 18, while a third suspect turned himself in on October 20.
The three men were purportedly hired to dispose of waste from a ceramics and tiles factory in the northern province of Phu Tho.
The police have launched criminal proceedings into the case.
