Currently Ho Chi Minh City is still facing difficulties preventing flood, especially in rainy seasons when many streets are affected. The city is implementing the National Strategy on Natural Disaster Prevention towards 2030, with outlook until 2050 to minimize damages. From now until 2025, it is expected that the city will complete Zoning No.752 with 16 projects and Zoning 1547 with 29 projects to manage water flow to prevent flood, together with 70 projects of sewage, 7 projects of detention basin with total estimated value of more than 107,000 billion Vietnam dong (4.6 billion USD).
To prevent the above issue, some developed countries in Europe, America, Japan, Korea, China applied water retentive paver to construct dike, irrigation works, etc. This is environmentally friendly material, can bear significant weight together with allowing rain to pass through the natural soil, reducing urban heat, flood and maintaining the underground water, protecting lives underground.
Illustration: Common bricks/paver used in public construction
In July 2023, Mr. Takata Mimoru, Development Director of Eco System Inc., Japan made a visit to Hoang Son factory and signed MOU to co-operate in research, market development for “green” construction materials.
Eco System Inc. is a Japanese company focusing on research and development of recycled products such as construction waste, removed gypsum board, remained steel after destruction of old buildings, etc. For more information about Eco System Inc., please visit: https://www.eco-system.ne.jp/index_eng.html
Regarding water retentive paver, Mr. Takata Mimoru shared that in Japan, standards and conformity are very detailed. In Vietnam, water retentive paver (or paver in general) only have standards on three criteria: strength index, water absorption, abrasion.
With the spirit of effective cooperation, representatives of Eco System Inc., worked at laboratory of Hoang Son and produced samples from 12 different gradations, with materials for brick/paver production at Hoang Son brick factory. They concluded that the production of water retentive paver at Hoang Son brick factory is totally feasible. Both parties will continue to research, review quality, optimize productions, perform conformity and public the product to the market in the near future.
With the initial optimistic results, Hoang Son and Eco System Inc., expect the co-research and development project of water retentive paver will be successful and bring the new product to the market with optimized cost, supporting Ho Chi Minh city to effectively construct flood prevention facilities.
