To strengthen the assurance of safe water supply to cope with the risks of drought, water shortage, and saltwater intrusion in Vietnam

To strengthen the assurance of safe water supply to cope with the risks of drought, water shortage, and saltwater intrusion in Vietnam (Internet Image)

On January 26, 2024, the Ministry of Construction issued Official Dispatch 460/BXD-HTKT on strengthening solutions to ensure safe water supply to cope with the risks of drought, water shortage, and saltwater intrusion in Vietnam.

To strengthen the assurance of safe water supply to cope with the risks of drought, water shortage, and saltwater intrusion in Vietnam

Specifically, on January 15, 2024, the Prime Minister issued Official Telegram 04/CD-TTg requesting the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control; Ministers of Ministries: Agriculture and Rural Development, Natural Resources and Environment, Construction, Industry, and Trade, and the Chairman of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities, proactively respond to the risk of drought, water shortage, and saltwater intrusion in Vietnam. During the dry season of 2023–2024, saltwater intrusion in the Mekong Delta region is forecast to be at a high level. At peak times, there will be a shortage of fresh water and saltwater intrusion deep into the estuaries; The Central and Central Highlands regions may experience drought and a local shortage of fresh water.

Therefore, to ensure a safe and continuous water supply for people, proactively respond to drought and saltwater intrusion, and meet the requirements of socio-economic development and people's quality of life, the Ministry of Construction requests the People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities to focus on directing and implementing the following requirements:

- Closely monitor weather developments and hydrometeorological forecast information; Forecasting: water source, water quality, risk of water shortage; The operation of irrigation reservoirs, hydroelectric power, and irrigation systems aims to ensure water sources, prioritizing water sources for production and providing clean water for people's daily lives.

- Focus on directing or reporting to competent authorities on difficulties and problems and recommend solutions for regional water supply projects, including raw water supply projects in the Mekong Delta region, approved by the Prime Minister in the Master Plan and plan to implement the Mekong Delta region planning for the period 2021–2030, vision to 2050 in Decision 287/QD-TTg dated February 28, 2022, and Decision 816/QD-TTg dated July 7, 2023, especially the project related to the raw water pumping station in Cai Be district, Tien Giang province, providing raw water to 3 provinces: Tien Giang, Long An, and Ben Tre.

- Research solutions to backup water sources; strengthen connections between water plants; arrange land funds for sedimentation records and water storage tanks on the water supply system to ensure water sources for domestic purposes.

- Direct water supply units in the province to establish and implement plans to ensure safe water supply and risk management; develop procedures and organize drills to be ready to respond to incidents of drought, saltwater intrusion, and loss of water supply security and safety.

- Propagate and guide people to protect water sources and water supply works; use water economically and effectively, especially during the peak period of the dry season (around February to April 2024).

During the implementation process, if any difficulties or problems arise, please send them to the Ministry of Construction for timely guidance or report them to the competent authority for handling according to regulations.

More details can be found in Official Dispatch 460/BXD-HTKT, dated January 26, 2024.

Ho Quoc Tuan

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