9:22:20 AM | 5/13/2025
The Saigon Water Corporation (SAWACO)’s commitment to continuous customer service improvement is not just a guiding principle, but a concrete, ongoing effort crucial to ensuring water security for Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s largest metropolis. To learn more about the importance and proud history of Saigon - Ho Chi Minh City’s 150-year water supply legacy, our reporter interviewed Mr. Tran Quang Minh, General Director of SAWACO.
As a leading state-owned water supplier, what are your perspectives on SAWACO’s development over the past five decades?
The historic milestone of April 30, 1975 was a remarkable event in Vietnam’s struggle to safeguard its sovereignty, completing the southern liberation for national reunification. Ho Chi Minh City’s water industry has also experienced many challenges throughout its urban water supply journey. Following reunification, Ho Chi Minh City Water Supply Company was established to take over infrastructure and ensure water supply for more than 3 million residents. The establishment of SAWACO in 2005 represented a major turning point for the water industry as it became a pioneer in adopting a market-oriented approach and leading initiatives in innovation, technical upgrading and capacity expansion to ensure a stable water supply for over 11 million dwellers in the city today.
In particular, amid growing challenges from climate change and the increasing threat of saltwater intrusion, SAWACO has actively carried out infrastructure upgrade projects, diversified water sources and integrated digital technologies into its management processes, thus asserting its leadership in Vietnam’s urban water supply industry. At the same time, it has been firmly committed to executing major programs and initiatives, including the HCM City Water Supply System Development Plan (2020-2050) and the HCM City Water Supply and Groundwater Extraction Termination Program (2020-2030), both approved by the HCM City People’s Committee under Decision 203/QD-UBND dated January 18, 2021. SAWACO is also actively empowering the “HCM City Digital Transformation” Program and the ‘Smart HCM City Development to 2025” Project in accordance with Plan 1319/KH-UBND dated February 27, 2025
To date, SAWACO has achieved significant progress, maintaining a 100% clean water access rate for all households. Following its planned roadmap, it aims to reduce the non-revenue water rate to 13.6% by the end of 2025 and further to 12% by 2030. The firm has proactively coordinated with relevant agencies to advise the HCM City People’s Committee on approving investment cooperation policies for Kenh Dong II Water Plant and Thu Duc IV Water Plant and set up a workgroup to receive and prepare resources for the operation of the Binh An Water Plant. It has also focused on expanding its infrastructure to increase the total length of water supply pipelines to nearly 11,000 km. As part of its Clean Water Quality Improvement Program, the corporation is piloting direct-to-tap drinking water supply across its distribution network during the 2021-2025 period. SAWACO has raised the total designed capacity of its water plants to 2.4 million cubic meters a day, meeting the water demand of over 11 million city dwellers.
SAWACO boasts modern water facilities
What key projects is the company currently carrying out to meet the development of the city’s water supply system?
SAWACO has been carrying out some important projects to enhance the performance of HCM City’s water supply system. Specifically, we are working on projects such as the construction of Thu Duc IV Water Plant, Kenh Dong II Water Plant and the D2400 raw water pipeline from the Hoa An Pump Station to the Thu Duc Water Plant. We are also focusing on the water distribution network by restructuring and enhancing the network to ensure safe operations, with projects to continue the construction of the D2400 clean water pipeline from Binh Thai to the inner city and the installation of new ring pipeline routes. Additionally, we are effectively upgrading Thu Duc and Tan Hiep water plants. Notably, SAWACO is piloting the Direct-to-Tap Drinking Water Program in concentrated residential areas and high-end communities. This delivers numerous positive values, not only offering convenience and cost savings but also contributing to environmental protection and encouraging the use of safe clean water among the community
In the future, we will continue to propose investments in new water plants, construct raw water pipelines to relocate intake points further upstream, and implement projects to build large-capacity clean water reservoirs to ensure long-term raw water security and safe water supply for the city.
What advanced technologies and solutions have you adopted to enhance the management and operational efficiency of the urban water supply system?
To achieve the results we see today, the water supply industry has overcome numerous difficulties throughout its nearly 50-year journey of development alongside the city. These included shortages of materials and equipment needed to operate water treatment systems, as well as outdated water infrastructure. The rapid pace of urbanization and population growth has also placed tremendous pressure on the development of water sources and pipeline networks. Notably, the sector continues to face serious challenges such as climate change, saltwater intrusion and water source pollution
To tackle these challenges, SAWACO will need to implement a comprehensive system of consistent solutions, incorporate cutting-edge technology and modern equipment into the treatment and supply of clean water, while actively managing raw water sources. For example, over the years, SAWACO has invested in ArcGIS software and upgraded its GIS infrastructure to a modern standard. Notably, in 2024, the corporation launched the Smart Water Operations Center (SWOC), which applies leading-edge global technologies. This integrated software system enables centralized, interconnected and synchronized data management and system operations.
In response to Industry 4.0 like Big Data and AI, companies have been preparing their infrastructure and developing automated systems, including chatbots in customer service, ChatGPT applications in enterprise management and AI in data warehouse operations. For SAWACO, these efforts go hand in hand with the training of high-quality specialized human resources and collaboration with relevant stakeholders to protect and sustain water resources. Moreover, the firm has devised a development strategy and roadmap for information technology, scientific and technical innovation for the next 5-year period and for a 10-year vision. SAWACO is currently developing an action plan for the direct-to-tap drinking water initiative for the 2026-2030 period and will continue expanding public access to drinking water fountains across various areas in the city, ensuring compliance with legal regulations, approved timelines, goals and plans.
The company ensures a stable water supply for over 11 million dwellers in HCM City
Do you have any recommendations for HCM City authorities to further facilitate the development of State-owned enterprises?
Since its inception, to fulfil its political missions, SAWACO has consistently received the support from HCM City authorities. In particular, the corporation has benefited from special mechanisms and policies outlined in Resolution 98/2023/QH15 of the National Assembly, which introduces pilot policies to promote HCM City development, especially in urban management, natural resources and the environment, including water supply activities. Thanks to this support, SAWACO’s employees have been constantly seeking breakthrough solutions to successfully accomplish planned tasks and fulfill the goals set in the resolution of the 4th SAWACO Party Congress for the 2020-2025 term. These efforts help build a stronger and more sustainable city to become a trailblazer in the new era of Vietnam’s development.
In addition, SAWACO continues to have high expectations, particularly for the project of installing direct-to-tap drinking water fountains, a modern trend closely linked to developed cities. In this regard, we hope that local authorities and relevant bodies will incorporate the provision of suitable land for on-site water supply and drainage systems into modern urban standards. This should be considered a mandatory criterion in the planning of green and smart urban development. Such measures will positively help ease pressures on centralized treatment infrastructure while enhancing resilience to climate change and improving flood prevention efforts. Furthermore, the government should develop mechanisms that allow businesses to operate more actively. It is also important to recognize that growth evaluations should be conducted over a development period to ensure fairness, efficiency and non-interruption of the company’s ongoing operations or long-term contributions.
In every step forward, SAWACO is always fully aware that the water supply sector is the silent 'backbone' of a civilized, safe and developed city. With this spirit, SAWACO will continue to preserve and promote the highly regarded traditional values of the water supply industry, while constantly being dynamic, innovative and creative in building an increasingly modern water supply system. Our goal is to move toward automation and digitization, improve drinking water quality, enhance the quality of life for residents and contribute to local sustainable development.
Thank you so much!
By Han Luong, Vietnam Business Forum
Vietnamese
