Starbucks closes seven Hanoi stores over contaminated water
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Coffee shop giant Starbucks has temporarily closed seven stores in Hanoi’s southwestern districts over the ongoing oil contamination crisis.
A customer service agent said Friday that the closed stores are located in Cau Giay, Ha Dong and Nam Tu Liem districts, all of which use water that comes from the Da River in Hoa Binh Province. No reopening date has been set.
Other major coffee chains in the southwestern districts of Hanoi have remained open, with their managers saying, without elaborating, that they are getting clean water from a supplier.
Like Starbucks, many restaurants and eateries in Hanoi are struggling to get clean water.
Nghia, owner of a pho noodle stall in Hoang Mai District, said that he has spent hundreds of thousands of dong (VND100,000 = $4.3) on bottled water this week because the tap water smelled bad and could not be used for cooking.
A buffalo-meat restaurant chain with outlets in affected areas mobilizes staff to work till midnight Wednesday to stock bottled water.
In some areas, bottled water prices have increased 2-3 times due to high demand. The Vietnam Directorate of Market Surveillance has asked Hanoi authorities to stop merchants from overpricing bottled water.
On Tuesday last week, a 2.5-ton truck was seen dumping used oil into a mountain creek in Phu Minh Commune, Hoa Binh Province. The oil spread and contaminated the tap water for about one million Hanoi residents.
Tests of the smelly water by authorities later found that the level of styrene, an organic compound that is classified as “probably” carcinogenic, was 1.3-3.6 times higher than normal.
On Thursday, Hanoi officials said the tap water samples collected Monday this year passed safety tests, but continued to advise against drinking or cooking with it.
Questions & Answers
Q.Which areas of Hanoi are affected by the contaminated water crisis?
Which areas of Hanoi are affected by the contaminated water crisis?
The affected areas are Hanoi's southwestern districts, specifically Cau Giay, Ha Dong, and Nam Tu Liem. These districts all receive water from the Da River in Hoa Binh Province.
Q.What is the reason given for the contamination of Hanoi's tap water?
What is the reason given for the contamination of Hanoi's tap water?
The contamination stemmed from a 2.5-ton truck dumping used oil into a mountain creek in Hoa Binh Province last week. This oil then spread and contaminated the tap water for about one million Hanoi residents.
Q.What compound was found in the contaminated tap water and what are its health implications?
What compound was found in the contaminated tap water and what are its health implications?
Tests found styrene in the smelly water, at levels 1.3-3.6 times higher than normal. Styrene is an organic compound classified as 'probably' carcinogenic.
Q.How are other businesses in the affected areas coping with the water contamination?
How are other businesses in the affected areas coping with the water contamination?
Other major coffee chains in the southwestern districts are getting clean water from a supplier. Restaurants and eateries are struggling, with some buying bottled water and others mobilising staff to stock up.
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