A stream of thick black leachate, reeking with foul odor, has been spotted running from the Ru Ri landfill in the mountains, through residential areas, and into the sea in Nha Trang city, Khanh Hoa province.
The situation is seriously affecting the lives of local residents.
A black stream flows through a residential area before reaching the sea in Bac Nha Trang ward, Khanh Hoa. Photo: X.N
Officials from the Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee have issued an urgent directive requiring relevant departments to investigate and resolve the environmental pollution originating from the Ru Ri landfill, located in Luong Hoa hamlet, Bac Nha Trang ward.
Under this directive, the Department of Finance is tasked with reviewing and finalizing a proposal to upgrade the Luong Hoa leachate treatment station, with a report due by November 15. Meanwhile, the Department of Construction has been instructed to collaborate with the Nha Trang Public Services Management Board to provide documentation and resolve technical obstacles to improve pollution control at the site.
According to the provincial authorities, environmental inspections will be conducted not only at the landfill but also in surrounding affected areas. If necessary, specialists may be brought in to assist with remediation efforts.
Images captured in Bac Nha Trang ward. Photo: X.NFoul-smelling water flows through Can stream in Luong Hoa hamlet, Bac Nha Trang. Photo: X.N
This move comes in response to numerous resident complaints about foul-smelling, dark-colored wastewater flowing downhill from the Ru Ri landfill, crossing communities and eventually reaching the ocean, causing significant environmental concerns.
The Ru Ri landfill is an open dumping site established in 1980. It relies on outdated waste processing technology and lacks a base liner, allowing untreated leachate to accumulate and seep into the environment over time.
In 2014, the Nha Trang Urban Sanitation Improvement Project Management Unit (now part of the Khanh Hoa Provincial Development Project Management Board) attempted to shut down the site by covering it with soil and waterproof membranes. However, the landfill's base could not be retrofitted, and leachate continues to flow into Suoi Can stream, near Giang Day Bridge on National Highway 1, eventually emptying into the sea and impacting nearby communities.
Residents of Bac Nha Trang ward report that after prolonged heavy rains, large volumes of leachate gush from drainage ditches, pitch-black and foul-smelling, directly into their homes. While environmental workers occasionally apply lime powder to neutralize the odor, the effect is short-lived, and the issue recurs within weeks. Despite repeated complaints, no permanent solution has been implemented.
The provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment reported that the leachate treatment station in Bac Nha Trang was designed to handle 186 cubic meters per day but is currently processing an average of 216 cubic meters daily. The overflow is largely due to excessive rainwater from two upstream streams, overwhelming the system.
A stream of wastewater flows through residential areas before reaching the sea near the fish port in Bac Nha Trang. Photo: X.N
Additionally, the leachate pipeline has become clogged with sediment after years of use, making maintenance especially difficult during the rainy season and contributing to untreated runoff reaching the sea.
The department has proposed that the Department of Construction and the Khanh Hoa Development Project Management Board expedite the activation of the wastewater treatment facility and collection system under the CCSEP project to properly handle runoff from landfill sites.
The Department of Construction noted that the root cause of the system’s overload isn't just the increase in waste volume, but more critically, ineffective technical solutions. A massive influx of rainwater from two upstream Suoi Can streams floods the landfill area without any control or redirection, mixing with leachate from two dumps and flowing downstream, thus straining the entire system.
To address the overload, the Nha Trang Public Services Management Board has been tasked with developing an investment project to upgrade the leachate collection system and the Luong Hoa treatment station, ensuring stable and long-term wastewater treatment.
Vietnamnet.vn
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