(VOVworld) - A national meeting and a range of activities in response to World Water Day opened in the northern province of Bac Ninh on Wednesday.

The national meeting to mark World Water Day

The World Water Day 2017 takes the theme “Water and Wastewater” with a view to raising public awareness of water pollution mitigation, water resources protection, economical and effective exploitation and use of water resources. Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Tran Hong Ha, was speaking in the meeting: “On the occasion of the World Water Day, I call for an all-out effort to promote safe water treatment, reuse waste water by tuning it into resources. This required improved awareness to minimize water pollution, early warning of harming incidents while effectively using safe water sources and preventing wastefulness.”

 Other activities include a scientific seminar themed “Safe treatment and reuse of wastewater – Solution to sustainably protect water resources” and a showcase of photos and water-saving technological products, along with communications activities. 

According to the ministry’s Directorate of Water Resources Management, Population growth along with rapid urbanisation and industrialisation are exerting great pressure on Vietnam’s environment and water resources. 

Among air, water and soil pollution, water pollution is the most serious, mostly caused by the discharge of untreated and poorly treated wastewater from industrial and agricultural production facilities, craft villages, and households.