Drought brings saline water deep into Mekong Delta
More than 377,000 people in the Mekong Delta face a fresh-water shortage
because of saline water intrusion in the area as a result of a long and
severe drought, according to the National Centre for Rural Clean Water
Supply and Environmental Sanitation.
More than 377,000 people in the Mekong Delta face a fresh-water shortage
because of saline water intrusion in the area as a result of a long and
severe drought, according to the National Centre for Rural Clean Water
Supply and Environmental Sanitation.
The price for fresh clean water has soared. In Kien Giang, Ben Tre and Ca Mau provinces, people have been buying clean water for 25,000-60,000 VND (1.2-2.9 USD) a cubic metre, far higher than the normal price of 7,000-10,000 VND.
Vo Thi Thong, 47, from Hon Dat district's Binh Son commune in Kien Giang, said the bore wells of hundreds of households had been affected by saline water intrusion and acidic soil.
To have potable water, locals have to travel about 10km to the commune's centre to buy clean water, she said.
Saline water intrusion and drought in the delta have affected agricultural production, with salt water concentration increasing to 0.9 percent in several areas in Hau Giang province, Nguyen Van Dong, director of the province's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said.
In Ben Tre, Tra Vinh, Ca Mau and Bac Lieu provinces, the water is more saline than last year, officials said.
In Ca Mau province, the salt concentration reached 3 percent. Rice will die when the salt concentration in fields becomes higher than this level.
About 100,000ha of farmland in the delta have been affected by saline water intrusion, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
This intrusion occurred one month earlier than in the past, and entered 40-50 km deep into river mouths.
In some areas in Soc Trang, Tra Vinh, Ben Tre, Tien Giang and Long An provinces, saline water has intruded 50-60km into rivers.
Since early February, strong winds combined with drought have created favourable conditions for deeper saline water intrusion.
Steps have been taken to provide fresh water to farms.
Hau Giang and Vinh Long provinces have dredged and upgraded dozens of canals to supply irrigation water for 38,000ha of rice and fruit in affected areas.
Tien Giang province has built 173 temporary dams to prevent saline water intrusion and set up 173 sites to pump water into fields.
And Kien Giang province has closed sluice gates along sea at Rach Gia - Ba Hon areas to keep fresh water.
Nguyen Huynh Trung, deputy head of the Kien Giang Irrigation Sub-department, said the water levels of rivers would decline as there would be little rain during the dry season.
"Saline water intrusion will likely continue to enter deeper inland with a higher concentration of salt," he said.-VNA
The price for fresh clean water has soared. In Kien Giang, Ben Tre and Ca Mau provinces, people have been buying clean water for 25,000-60,000 VND (1.2-2.9 USD) a cubic metre, far higher than the normal price of 7,000-10,000 VND.
Vo Thi Thong, 47, from Hon Dat district's Binh Son commune in Kien Giang, said the bore wells of hundreds of households had been affected by saline water intrusion and acidic soil.
To have potable water, locals have to travel about 10km to the commune's centre to buy clean water, she said.
Saline water intrusion and drought in the delta have affected agricultural production, with salt water concentration increasing to 0.9 percent in several areas in Hau Giang province, Nguyen Van Dong, director of the province's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said.
In Ben Tre, Tra Vinh, Ca Mau and Bac Lieu provinces, the water is more saline than last year, officials said.
In Ca Mau province, the salt concentration reached 3 percent. Rice will die when the salt concentration in fields becomes higher than this level.
About 100,000ha of farmland in the delta have been affected by saline water intrusion, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
This intrusion occurred one month earlier than in the past, and entered 40-50 km deep into river mouths.
In some areas in Soc Trang, Tra Vinh, Ben Tre, Tien Giang and Long An provinces, saline water has intruded 50-60km into rivers.
Since early February, strong winds combined with drought have created favourable conditions for deeper saline water intrusion.
Steps have been taken to provide fresh water to farms.
Hau Giang and Vinh Long provinces have dredged and upgraded dozens of canals to supply irrigation water for 38,000ha of rice and fruit in affected areas.
Tien Giang province has built 173 temporary dams to prevent saline water intrusion and set up 173 sites to pump water into fields.
And Kien Giang province has closed sluice gates along sea at Rach Gia - Ba Hon areas to keep fresh water.
Nguyen Huynh Trung, deputy head of the Kien Giang Irrigation Sub-department, said the water levels of rivers would decline as there would be little rain during the dry season.
"Saline water intrusion will likely continue to enter deeper inland with a higher concentration of salt," he said.-VNA
You should also see
Visitors flock to memorial commemorating Dien Bien Phu victory
Numerous groups from around the country have visited the Dien Bien Phu Historical Victory Museum, a repository of artefacts and documents about Vietnam’s resounding victory that echoed around the world.
See more
Environment
Up to 1,000 ban flowers planted at Dien Bien Phu battlefield relic sites
About 1,000 ban (Bauhinia variegate) flower trees were planted at relic sites such as A1 Hill, Him Lam resistance centre and De Castries Bunker at Dien Bien Phu battlefield relic complex in the northern province of Dien Bien on April 21.
Environment
Vietnam acts to combat white pollution
The Vietnamese Government has issued a lot of policies, participated in various forums, and promoted international cooperation, demonstrating its activeness and affirming its determination to reduce plastic waste and join global efforts toward a planet without white pollution.
Environment
Can Tho explores climate change cooperation with foreign countries
Leaders of the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on April 17 met with a visiting delegation from the Embassies of Canada, New Zealand, Norway, and Switzerland to discuss issues related to erosion, climate change, migration, and the city's current needs for support and cooperation.
Environment
Nghe An: Man captured for illegal wildlife transport
Police in Vinh city, the central province of Nghe An, have captured a suspect involved in the illegal transport of 420 rare wildlife animals, including parrots, kangaroos, turtles, and monkeys.
Videos
Vietnam works to prevent biodiversity degradation
Vietnam is recognised as one of the countries with the richest biodiversity in the world with different ecosystems including tropical forests, marine and coastal ecosystems. However, experts from the World Wide Fund for Nature in Vietnam said that Vietnam's biodiversity is degrading.
