Guidelines for general assessment of the current status of water resources in Vietnam

Specifically, according to Article 8 of Circular No. 42/2015/TT-BTNMT of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Vietnam, general assessment of the current status of water resources is guided as follows:

1. Preliminary description of the system of rivers, streams, canals, lakes, lagoons, aquifers:

- Upstream and downstream locations, lengths of major rivers, streams, canals, administrative units where water flows through;

- Geographical location, area of lakes, lagoons;

- Distribution area, depth and thickness of the main aquifers.

2. Assessment of the current state of surface water sources:

- Total annual average water volume at fixed monitoring positions in the planning task area;

- Average monthly flow distribution;

- Variation of annual flow for many years;

- Total volume of lakes and lagoons;

- Preliminary assessment of water quality of rivers, streams, canals, canals, lakes and lagoons mainly in the planning task area.

3. Preliminary assessment of the current status of water reserves and quality of the main aquifers in the planning task area

Besides, Circular No. 42/2015/TT-BTNMT also guides the preliminary determination of functions of water sources as follows:

- Total amount of water exploited and used in the year and in the dry season;

- Proportion of contributions to GDP, to the provincial and central budgets;

- Create jobs for local people;

- The main production activities depend on water sources;

- The population is supplied with domestic water from water sources; 

- Exploiting and using water according to the decisions of the State;

- Inter-country, inter-regional agreements and organizations related to the exploitation and use of water resources.

View details at Circular No. 42/2015/TT-BTNMT of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Vietnam, effective from January 01, 2016.

Le Hai

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