Ho Chi Minh City water supplier Sawaco will need investment capitalof more than 4.5 trillion VND (215million USD) to build water pipelinesto ensure that all city residents have access to tap water this year.

More than 89 percent of the population has had access to tap water,but the city will raise the rate to 100 percent by the end of this year,Tran Dinh Phu, General Director of Sawaco (Saigon Water Corporation),told the HCM City People 's Council's Economic and Budget Commission at alast week meeting.

To reach the target, Sawaco needs to build1,100km of water pipeline, 94km of which are main pipelines costing 2.3trillion VND. The remaining are small pipelines, costing 2.2trillionVND.

However, Sawaco, is only able to cover less than half ofthe invested capital and has sought private investment for its waterpipeline project.

"Many investors are willing to invest inwater plants but don't want to invest in the pipeline project because ittakes a long time to recover capital," Phu said.

Phu proposedto the People's Council that it use its budget to help Sawaco cover halfof the investment capital of 4.5 trillion VND.

According toPhu, the city will have two more water plants. The Thu Duc 3 Plant builtby the Saigon Clean Water Investment and Trading Co. will startoperation by the end of this year and the Tan Hiep 2 Water Plantinvested by Tan Hiep Water Invesment Co., by the end of next year. Eachplant has a capacity of 300,000 c.m a day.

"Sawaco will buywater from the plants to supply to city residents. It needs to invest inmore water pipelines to fully use the additional water volume," Phusaid.-VNA