HCM City authorities have agreed on demolishing seven water towers left unused for decades over fears they might collapse.
According to Saigon Water Corporation (Sawaco), the seven mushroom-shaped water towers are located on Hoang Dieu, Le Dai Hanh, Tran Hung Dao, Nguyen Van Dau, Ho Van Hue, Pham Phu Thu, and Nguyen Thai Son streets built before 1975 by Americans during the Vietnamese war.
The water tower on Hoang Dieu Street
However, after work finished, they could not be used because of leaks and have been abandoned for more than 45 years. They have deteriorated, worrying nearby residents that they could collapse any time.
Between 1998 and 1999, Sawaco proposed upgrading the towers for being re-used, but they were too have deteriorated; so the firm suggested building underground water reservoirs in the area to supply water safely for firefighting and to allow chloride filling stations to improve the quality of water sources after the removal of the towers scheduled to be implemented in 2018.
The water towers are large elevated containers, constructed to store water at sufficient height to provide enough pressure for the water distribution system. The water towers were also intended to be used as water reservoirs during times of peak demand, but no longer are operational.
The tower on Le Dai Hanh Street
HCM City is currently home to more than 100 water towers built by the French and the Americans before the Vietnam War ended in 1975.
Earlier experts have proposed that some of the disused water towers in the city be retained as tourist attractions instead of being demolished.
