Estimation of clean water tariff for mountainous ethnic minorities in two communes of Dien Bien province

Abstract

    In Vietnam, over the last years the government has implemented the National Target Program to improve access to clean water and sanitation to people, especially in rural and mountainous areas. "National goal that by 2010: 85% of rural population using clean water with 60 liters/day person ..." (Decree 104/2000/QD-TTg). In Dien Bien province, over the last years many water supply systems have been built from the different funding sources. But in fact, the previous management models of water system such as "self-management", "community-based", "water user group" ... have shown the shortcomings and consequently "many systems were constructed, but after a short time they didn't function". In the framework of research and testing the co-operative model for clean water service delivery, the water tariff is used as a typical economic tool; it was set in accordance with circumstances and conditions of each region and system. It enables the sustainable management of clean water supply scheme.