Reviving To Lich River: Replenishing water from Red River and West lakes

The Hanoi People’s Committee on February 5 announced a plan to replenish the To Lich River with water from the West Lake and the Red River to enhance its self-purification capacity and improve the environment.

To Lich River is attached closely to the history of Hanoi for thousands of years.

Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Tran Sy Thanh said that the initiative will reduce pollution in the river, restore the landscape, and create favorable conditions for the ecosystem to regenerate.

He instructed the Department of Construction, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, and the Hanoi Drainage Company Limited to conduct thorough surveys and implement the project as soon as possible.

According to the plan, the city will draw water from the West Lake to replenish the To Lich River. The project is scheduled to end by August 2025.

To ensure that the water level of West Lake is not adversely affected by the replenishment, Tay Ho District will draw additional water from the Red River and treated water from the West Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant to compensate for the extracted volume.

Before being introduced into West Lake, this water will first be directed to the Lotus Lake, which will serve as a settling basin to prevent any negative impact on West Lake’s natural ecosystem.

The city will also launch a project to collect all remaining wastewater currently being discharged directly into West Lake. Most of the wastewater has already been collected and treated at the West Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Environmental agencies will regularly monitor and assess the quality of treated water to ensure compliance with environmental standards and regulations.

In the long run, the Department of Construction and the Tay Ho District People’s Committee will study the feasibility of replenishing the To Lich River with water from the Red River via the Vo Chi Cong route. This measure aims to maintain the river’s flow while keeping West Lake’s water level stable.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment will improve the urban landscape along the river, including environmental sanitation and beautification efforts. In the short term, districts along the To Lich River will focus on environmental cleanup, waste collection, and tree planting initiatives.

News of the water replenishment plan has quickly garnered public attention, particularly from residents living along the To Lich River.

Nguyen Van Lam, a resident of Cau Giay District, expressed his anticipation for the transformation.

"Walking along the riverbank in summer, you can clearly smell the foul odor rising from the water. If the river is cleaned up, our living environment will improve significantly," he said.

Nguyen Thi Hai, a resident of Nam Tu Liem District, also has high hopes for the project.

"Born and raised in Hanoi, this river is a part of my childhood memories," she said.

"If it can be cleaned, that would be wonderful. It sounds like a promising plan," Hai said.

Experts agree that this project is highly anticipated, as restoring the To Lich River has long been a pressing concern for Hanoi residents.

"The city needs to take the right approach to ensure the water replenishment process is carried out smoothly and effectively," said Dao Trong Tu, Head of the Vietnam Rivers Network.

To realize this plan, it is crucial for the city and relevant authorities to strictly enforce environmental protection regulations and take firm measures against violations, he added.

"Hanoi must strengthen compliance with environmental laws in businesses and relocate polluting establishments that are not in line with urban planning," Tu said.

Former Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Vo Trong Hong, said that replenishing water to clean the To Lich River will only be truly effective if all sources of pollution are completely cut off beforehand.

"If we simply add water without strictly controlling wastewater discharge, the positive effects will not last long," he said.

The first step for a long-term future

With this project, Hanoi has taken an important step towards revitalizing its inner-city rivers and addressing the long-standing issues of black water and foul odors.

However, to truly revive the To Lich River, a comprehensive solution is needed, as stated by the specialists. It must involve the government, experts and local communities. Replenishing water from the Red River or West Lake is just one piece of the puzzle.

The core issue lies in upgrading the urban wastewater collection and treatment system. As experts have pointed out, the key is to minimize pollution at its source, conduct sediment dredging, and treat wastewater before it enters the river.

Moreover, technical agencies must carefully consider drainage capacity when implementing the water replenishment plan. If not properly regulated, additional water could strain the city’s drainage infrastructure, especially during the rainy season.

In the short term, replenishing water from the Red River and the West Lake will certainly enhance the river’s landscape and water quality. As seen during the heavy rains in September 2024, increased water flow significantly improved the river’s condition.

However, for a sustainable future, the city must adopt a more holistic strategy – one that includes pollution control, wastewater treatment system upgrades, and ecological restoration.

Beyond just a body of water, the To Lich River holds historical and cultural significance. As a river deeply intertwined with the heritage of Thang Long–Hanoi, it has witnessed the city's many transformations.

If properly restored, the river could become a new symbol of a greener, cleaner, and more sustainable Hanoi.