HO CHI MINH CITY, June 26 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City is reducing groundwater exploitation to prevent land subsidence and contaminated water usage, according to the municipal Department of Natural Resources and Environment on Tuesday.

Due to overexploitation of groundwater, some areas in the city gradually subside little by little. Besides, groundwater in some districts have been contaminated with harmful bacteria and chemicals.

Up to 149 water samples collected from wells in Ho Chi Minh City in May have excessive amounts of E.coli bacteria, ammonia and iron, failing to meet standards set by the Vietnamese Ministry of Health for daily use, according to the municipal Preventive Medicine Center.

At present, the city exploits over 700,000 cubic meters of groundwater a day, half of which serve households, and the other serve production activities.

Ho Chi Minh City will reduce the daily groundwater exploitation to 470,000 cubic meters in 2018, some 330,000 cubic meters in 2019, around 200,000 cubic meters in the 2020-2023 period, and 100,000 cubic meters in 2025, said the department. Meanwhile, the city will install more tap water systems.