Installation Program for Rainwater Harvesting, Storage, and Treatment Systems in Quoi Thien Island Commune, Vinh Long Province

A sustainable clean water solution in the context of climate change

In the context of climate change increasingly affecting the Mekong Delta, access to safe domestic water is becoming a significant challenge for many rural communities, especially island communes and islet areas. In Quoi Thien island commune, Vinh Long Province, although local livelihoods and economic conditions have seen many positive improvements, ensuring access to clean water during the dry season remains an issue that requires attention and support through appropriate and sustainable solutions.

Quoi Thien island commune, Vinh Long Province, has long been known as a locality with strong potential for rural economic development based on the fruit tree value chain. Its abundant orchards not only contribute to stable income for local residents but also shape the image of a dynamic, prosperous rural area with the capacity to adapt to economic fluctuations.

However, alongside these positive achievements in economic development, Quoi Thien still faces challenges in securing safe domestic water sources. As an islet commune located in the middle of the Co Chien River and approximately 50–60 km from the sea mouth, the locality is affected by seasonal drought and saltwater intrusion, which usually occur from January to May each year. During this period, many surface water and groundwater sources are at risk of salinization and may no longer meet the requirements for daily domestic use.

For households living in remote areas where centralized water supply systems have not yet fully reached, the shortage of freshwater sources not only creates difficulties in daily life but also increases their vulnerability to extreme weather events caused by climate change.

Donation of 06 rainwater storage and treatment systems to households

Based on this reality, the program “Installation of Rainwater Storage and Treatment Systems for Domestic Use” was implemented in Quoi Thien Commune as a practical solution aimed at improving local residents’ access to clean water.

On February 6, 2026, in Quoi Thien Commune, the program held a handover ceremony to donate 06 rainwater harvesting, storage, and treatment systems to local households. This activity marked an important step in the journey to improve living conditions, strengthen water self-sufficiency, and enhance the climate change adaptation capacity of the island commune community.

The systems are designed to make use of locally available rainwater, combined with appropriate storage and treatment solutions to meet household domestic water needs. The effective use of rainwater helps residents reduce their dependence on water sources that are vulnerable to saltwater intrusion, while also increasing their clean water reserves during the dry season.

A multi-stakeholder program for the community

The program is implemented within the framework of the “For a More Beautiful Vietnam” campaign initiated by Heineken Vietnam, with the support of Central Retail Vietnam, represented by the GO! supermarket chain.

This is a collaborative initiative among Heineken Vietnam, Central Retail Vietnam, the STARS Water Center – Tra Vinh University, and Map Me Co., Ltd., aimed at supporting access to clean water for vulnerable households in Quoi Thien island commune, contributing to improved living conditions and strengthened climate change adaptation capacity.

The coordination among the parties highlights the significance of a multi-stakeholder cooperation model, combining social resources, a connecting role, and technical expertise to implement clean water solutions that align with the practical needs of local communities.

A solution suited to local conditions

Before installation, the program conducted field surveys to ensure that the selected solution was appropriate for the natural conditions, current water-use practices, and domestic water needs of local residents.

Experts and technicians from the STARS Water Center – Tra Vinh University, in coordination with the sponsors, connecting partners, and local authorities, directly surveyed the living conditions of households, rainwater collection capacity, installation locations, water-use needs, and factors affecting the long-term operation of the systems.

Based on these findings, the rainwater storage and treatment systems were studied and designed to be simple, easy to operate, cost-effective, and durable under the actual local conditions. This is an important factor in ensuring that the systems not only deliver effective results in the initial period after handover, but can also be maintained over the long term in the daily lives of local households.

The rainwater harvesting, storage, and treatment solution is considered suitable for the conditions of Quoi Thien island commune, where seasonal rainfall is relatively abundant but has not yet been effectively utilized for domestic purposes. Making use of rainwater not only helps supplement safe domestic water sources but also contributes to fostering habits of managing and using water resources more economically and proactively.

Raising awareness and strengthening water self-sufficiency

In addition to system installation, the program also focuses on guiding residents on basic operation, maintenance, and efficient water use. This is an important component that helps households better understand the role of the system, enabling them to proactively maintain and use the facility properly.

Through the process of accessing, using, and maintaining the systems, residents gradually improve their awareness of the role of water resources, develop habits of using water more reasonably, and proactively adapt to climate-related risks. Instead of relying entirely on external water sources, the local community is better equipped to build self-sufficiency in domestic water management.

Towards a replicable clean water model

Based on the initial results, the rainwater storage and treatment model in Quoi Thien Commune is considered to have potential for replication in areas with similar conditions across the Mekong Delta. In particular, as climate change continues to strongly affect regional water security, community-based solutions that combine social resources with scientific and technical foundations are increasingly demonstrating their important role.

The program “Installation of Rainwater Storage and Treatment Systems for Domestic Use” in Quoi Thien Commune demonstrates that community water support initiatives can achieve sustainable impact when they are implemented based on a thorough understanding of local needs, close coordination among stakeholders, and a long-term orientation toward climate change adaptation.

This is not only an immediate support solution for households during the dry season, but also a foundation for the local community to gradually strengthen water self-sufficiency, improve quality of life, and achieve more stable development in the future.

Through this program, the STARS Water Center – Tra Vinh University continues to affirm its role in accompanying communities in the research, application, and implementation of clean water solutions suited to local conditions. At the same time, the program also contributes to promoting multi-stakeholder cooperation in the fields of clean water, environment, and climate change adaptation in the Mekong Delta.