Buổi 95: Writing Task 2 – Problem & solution: thiếu nước ở đô thị

In many urban areas, the demand for water now exceeds the available supply. This essay will argue that the problem is caused mainly by population growth and inefficient infrastructure, and that it can be addressed through a combination of repairs, pricing and reuse.

The first cause is the rapid growth of city populations. As more people move to cities for work, the number of households, offices and factories needing water rises, often faster than authorities can develop new sources. In some places, this has led to the over-extraction of groundwater, which lowers water levels and can make future supplies less reliable. The second cause is ageing infrastructure. Many cities depend on pipe networks that are decades old, and a considerable proportion of the water they carry may be lost through leaks before it reaches consumers.

Several measures could reduce this shortfall. To tackle the problem of waste, local governments should invest in detecting and repairing leaks. Although this requires significant upfront spending, it is often cheaper than building new reservoirs, because it makes better use of water the city already has. To manage demand, authorities could introduce tiered pricing, so that households pay more only if they use more than a basic amount. This would encourage conservation, but it would need to be designed carefully so that large, low-income families are not unfairly penalised. Finally, cities could treat and reuse wastewater for purposes such as irrigation and industrial cooling, reserving fresh supplies for drinking.

In conclusion, urban water shortages stem largely from growing demand and wasteful infrastructure. By repairing networks, pricing water fairly and reusing treated wastewater, cities can move towards a more sustainable supply.

Subject: Corrective action plan – loading bay leak

Hi Ms Huong,

Following last week's leak in Warehouse B, the root cause was a blocked gutter above bay 3. We propose two actions: (1) all gutters will be checked every three months by the facilities team, starting 1 April; (2) packaging will be stored on raised pallets, which Long will arrange by 20 March. I'll report back once both are in place.

Best, Anh