Hai Phong, March 12, 2025—The "Consultation workshop: A policy framework for treated water reuse and circularity in industrial parks in Viet Nam" took place in Hai Phong, gathering more than 50 delegates from government agencies, businesses, industrial park infrastructure developers, and environmental experts.

The event was organised by the Project Management Unit of the "Scaling Up Eco-Industrial Park Approaches to Promote a Circular Economy in Vietnam" under the Ministry of Finance (formerly under the Ministry of Planning and Investment), in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Hai Phong Economic Zone Authority. The workshop aimed to assess the current policy framework on circularity and treated water reuse, discuss challenges, and propose solutions to improve policies for the reuse of treated water in industrial parks.

Water is an essential resource for both daily life and industrial production. The reuse, recycling, and circular management of water resources have been incorporated into several key legal documents in Viet Nam, such as the 2023 Law on Water Resources, the 2020 Law on Environmental Protection, and related government decrees. However, specific guidelines on circularity and treated water reuse in industrial parks are still being developed, causing difficulties in implementation. The workshop provided a platform for stakeholders to exchange opinions and suggest solutions to promote the sustainable use of water resources in the context of a circular economy.

At the event, Ms. Nguyen Tu Anh, Director, Department of Water Resources Economics and Management - Warter Resources Institute (under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment), presented an overview of existing legal regulations on water reuse and circularity, particularly in industrial zones. She highlighted that water demand in industrial parks is expected to quadruple by 2050, while the rate of water reuse remains alarmingly low.

Sharing insights on wastewater treatment and reuse practices in industrial parks, Ms. Diep Thi Kim Hoan, Director of Sustainability at DEEP C Industrial Park, stated that DEEP C currently operates three advanced wastewater treatment plants with a total capacity of 13,000 m³ per day. The treated water can be reused for various purposes, including road cleaning, tree watering, solar panel cleaning, and supply to businesses within the industrial park. However, the lack of specific technical standards for different reuse purposes poses significant implementation challenges. Additionally, collaboration between enterprises and industrial parks in reusing treated wastewater remains limited due to the absence of clear guidelines.

During the workshop, Assoc. Prof. Dr Hoang Thi Thu Huong from the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, and a UNIDO consultant presented policy proposals detailing technical and management guidelines for treated water reuse in industrial parks. Based on a survey of actual demand in industrial parks, the initial phase will focus on developing standards and guidelines for water reuse in road cleaning and tree and lawn watering.

In the discussion session, participants actively contributed ideas to a legal framework for treated water reuse in industrial parks. A total of 13 comments were raised, emphasising the urgency of issuing technical standards to promote treated water reuse for purposes such as road cleaning, trees and lawn watering.

Experts and businesses agreed that simplifying administrative procedures related to treated water reuse would encourage implementation. Some participants also suggested referencing international water circularity standards but ensuring feasibility and practicality in the Vietnamese context. Additionally, they emphasised that consulting businesses, industrial park operators, and regulatory agencies is crucial to developing effective policies that align with real-world needs.

In her closing remarks, Dr. Nguyen Tram Anh, National Project Manager of the Global Eco-Industrial Parks Programme (GEIPP) Vietnam, reaffirmed that UNIDO will continue working with government agencies, businesses, and experts to study international models of treated water reuse. Based on this research, the program will propose concrete solutions tailored to Viet Nams conditions, including the development of national standards for treated wastewater reuse and pilot projects in eco-industrial parks in Hai Phong and Bac Ninh.

The Hai Phong workshop marked the beginning of a series of policy consultation workshops on treated water reuse in industrial parks. The next workshop, scheduled for Dong Nai, will explore policy proposals and practical solutions to accelerate implementation.