Vietnam: Protection of underground water during the course of exploitation

According to Circular No. 75/2017/TT-BTNMT of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Vietnam, owners of groundwater extraction structures are responsible for maintaining hygiene in the well’s vicinity and adopting measures to prevent groundwater pollution via extraction wells.

Owners of groundwater extraction structures which serve providing domestic water must construct protection zones according to water resource laws.

Notably, owners of extraction structures who are licensed for extraction and use of groundwater shall install equipment and assign personnel to monitor flow rate, water level and water quality at wells for extraction and wells for monitor of the structures satisfactory to figures, methods and regulations on monitor to provide and update figures in systems for monitoring water resource extraction and use of regulatory agencies according to water resource laws.

Monitoring water level at wells for monitor of extraction structures must be implemented at at least 1 well in case of structures whose flow rate ranges from 3,000 m3/24 hours to less than 5,000 m3/24 hours; at at least 2 wells in case of structures whose flow rate ranges from 5,000 m3/24 hours to less than 10,000 m3/24 hours; at at least 3 wells in case of structures whose flow rate reaches 10,000 m3/24 hours or higher.

Detect, handle and rectify irregular events or incidents regarding water quality or water level during extraction process and other incidents caused by the extraction process; in case of incidents, immediately stop the extraction, promptly rectify and compensate for any damage (if any); promptly inform Commune-level People’s Committees and Departments of Natural Resources and Environment where the incidents occur and report to agencies that issue license for groundwater extraction and use.

View more details at Circular No. 75/2017/TT-BTNMT of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Vietnam, effective from February 12, 2018.

-Thao Uyen-

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