Assessing The Surface Water Quality Of West Lake In Ha Noi

1

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Student thesis is the last test for students on how they apply knowledge that they have

learned at university to reality. For many students, doing thesis is seen as a mean that helps

student to be familiar with research activities in the future. With the permission of the

Faculty of Forest Resources and Environmental Management- Vietnam Forestry University,

and the guidance of Msc. Nguyen Thi Bich Hao, I chose the topic “Assessing the water

quality of West Lake in Hanoi”.

For the completion of this thesis, I would like to say thanks to Msc. Nguyen Thi Bich

Hao, who helped and instructed to complete this thesis from choosing topic, taking sampling,

and analyzing indicators. I also would like to express my gratefulness to Professor Lee

MacDonald, from Colorado State University, United State of America, who has helped and

guided me in writing the thesis proposal and thesis report. In addition, I highly appreciate the

supports of Faculty of Forest Resources and Environmental Management in facilitating me to

do this student thesis. Finally, I also would like to say thanks to people who live surrounding

the West Lake for answering my interviewing questions, and staff of Chemical Institute for

helping me in analyzing samples.

Sincerely!

Xuan Mai, Month... Date... Year...

Student

Nguyen Quoc Anh

.

2

ABSTRACT

. West Lake, which locates in the north-west of Hanoi center, is the largest natural lake

in Hanoi. The area surrounding West Lake is planned to become the center of city in the near

future. However, in recent years, the lake has been contaminated by overflowing rainwater

and domestic wastewater from surrounding residential area. . To assess water quality of the

lake, the thesis used various research methods, such as field investigation, West Lake’s water

quality assessment through examining some major physical and chemical indicators such as

BOD, COD, turbidity... , methods of interviewing and data processing . The research results

show that water of West Lake is polluted by waste flows from domestic activities,

overflowing runoff, services... It is shown by the analytical results of some water quality

indicators. Business, increasing number of people in West Lake and bad awareness of people

are major socio – economic development activities that contribute to the degradation of West

Lake water quality in the study area. To contribute to improve the quality of the river water,

the thesis proposes some solutions such as: have a program about the water management,

investigate for protecting environment, increase notice people about the importance of

environment to raise awareness of social to keep and protect the environment...

3

CONTENT

1. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................1

2. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES................................................................................................3

2.1. Goals...................................................................................................................................3

2.2 . Objectives ..........................................................................................................................3

3. METHODS ............................................................................................................................4

3.1. Investigating the study area ................................................................................................4

3.2. Interviewing........................................................................................................................4

3.3. Assessing the water quality of West Lake ..........................................................................5

3.3.1. Analyzing selected indicators ........................................................................................5

3.3.2. Selecting locations and sites of sampling ........................................................................5

3.3.3. Tools and methods for sampling......................................................................................7

3.3.4. Analysis Methods.............................................................................................................8

3.3.5. Comparative assessment method ..................................................................................11

4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION.......................................................................................13

4.1. Socio - economic conditions of Tay Ho district ...............................................................13

4.2. Current status of West Lake’s water quality....................................................................14

4.3. Major impacts of water contamination on the ecological functions and living quality....21

4.4. Solutions ...........................................................................................................................23

4.4.1. Locations and characteristics of the waste generator discharged to West Lake ............23

4.4.2. Increasing awareness .....................................................................................................24

4.4.3. Enhancing the management capacity of local authorities..............................................24

4.4.4. Developing additional social policies............................................................................24

5. CONCLUSIONS..................................................................................................................26

REFERENCES