Survey and assessment of water resources in Vietnam from July 1, 2024

Survey and assessment of water resources in Vietnam from July 1, 2024 (Image from the Internet)

Survey and assessment of water resources in Vietnam from July 1, 2024

The activities of investigating and assessing water resources as stipulated in point a, clause 3, Article 9 of the Law on Water Resources 2023 include the following activities:

(1) Investigation and assessment of surface water resources are conducted on rivers, streams, canals, ditches, creeks, lakes, ponds, natural and artificial lagoons, including one or several of the following activities:

- Investigating and assessing the morphological characteristics of rivers, streams, canals, ditches, creeks, lakes, ponds, and lagoons; investigating and assessing the quantity and quality of surface water;

- Investigating and assessing the situation of degradation, depletion, pollution, and salinization of surface water sources;

- Investigating and assessing the load capacity of surface water sources;

- Investigating and determining the minimum flow on rivers and streams; investigating and zoning functional areas of surface water sources.

(2) Investigation and assessment of groundwater resources include one or several of the following activities:

- Investigating and assessing the reserves and quality of groundwater according to the ratios of 1:200,000; 1:100,000; 1:50,000; 1:25,000;

- Investigating and searching for groundwater sources;

- Investigating and assessing the situation of degradation, depletion, pollution, and salinization of groundwater sources;

- Investigating and zoning areas restricted and prohibited for groundwater exploitation;

- Investigating and determining the capacity for artificial recharge of groundwater.

(3) Investigating and assessing the status of water resource exploitation and use, and wastewater discharge into water sources.

(4) Investigating and determining the list of lakes, ponds, and lagoons that are not to be filled.

(5) Investigating and assessing for the purpose of mapping areas at risk of drought and water shortage.

(6) The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is responsible for organizing the investigation and assessment of water resources for the following activities:

- Investigating and assessing activities stipulated in clause 1, point a, and point c, clause 2, clause 3, and clause 4, Article 5 of Decree 53/2024/ND-CP on an inter-provincial basis;

- Investigating and assessing activities stipulated in point b, clause 2, and clause 5, Article 5 of Decree 53/2024/ND-CP.

(7) The Provincial People's Committee is responsible for organizing the investigation and assessment of water resources for the following activities:

- Investigating and assessing activities stipulated in clause 1, point a, and point c, clause 2, clause 3, and clause 4, Article 5 of Decree 53/2024/ND-CP within the provincial area;

- Investigating and assessing activities stipulated in point d and point dd, clause 2, Article 5 of Decree 53/2024/ND-CP.

(Article 5 of Decree 53/2024/ND-CP)

04 Requirements for activities of baseline survey of water resources in Vietnam

The activities of baseline survey of water resources in Vietnam stipulated in clause 3, Article 9 of the Law on Water Resources 2023 must meet the following requirements:

(i) Basic water resource investigation activities are conducted according to proposals and projects and must be appraised, accepted, and approved by competent state agencies as per regulations.

(ii) Based on the objectives, scope, and scale of the proposal or project and the specific characteristics of each investigation area, the agency approving the proposal or project decides on the specific contents of work, volume, and products of each proposal or project on the principle of ensuring inheritance and economical, efficient use of project funds. The content, norms, and unit prices for basic water resource investigations are implemented according to technical guidance from the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment.

(iii) Ensuring synchronization, consistency, and meeting the objectives of the proposal or project.

(iv) Information and data, results of basic water resource investigations must be reviewed and updated into the National Water Resource Information and Database System as stipulated in clause 4, Article 84 of Decree 53/2024/ND-CP.

(Article 4 of Decree 53/2024/ND-CP)

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