Some of the water treatment plants in the northern port city of Haiphong implement the intelligent water filter technology that was designed for Kitakyushu city in Japan. The system uses bacteria to absorb, disintegrate and remove harmful chemicals from water, including ammonium nitrate and trihalomethanes. The technology was jointly developed by the Kitakyushu authorities and the Kobe-based Kobelco Eco-Solutions Company and its application in Haiphong is the first time it has been introduced in a foreign country. Kitakyushu is currently investing in and consulting for water-related projects in developing Asian nations. The Kitakyushu administration will act as an advisor for the project while Kobelco has won a $225,000 contract to plan the system in Haiphong. Kobelco will begin construction on the water plant on May 30. When it is completed it will be capable of treating 5,000 tones of water per day to serve 1.9 million people in Haiphong, which is Vietnam’s third most populous city. (vov.vn May 17)
