Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – An international seminar on the sustainable use of groundwater took place in Hanoi on July 5.
Subjects of discussion included research and development of groundwater sources in Vietnam, northeast Thailand and Quebec (Canada), as well as management solutions to the exploitation of groundwater in the Mekong River area.
Associate Professor Nguyen Ngoc Thanh, principal of the Hanoi University of Natural Resources and Environment - one of the seminar organisers, said the event was expected to garner experts’ opinions and measures to develop the valuable resource.
Adichat Surinkum, head of the Co-ordinating Committee for the Geoscience Programme in East and Southeast Asia – another of the organisers, said his agency, which plays an important role in developing regional groundwater, looks to boost connection and experience exchanges among countries and organisations inside its network.
Vincent Cloutier from the University of Quebec’s groundwater research institution noted stronger policies and mechanisms toward environmental protection is a key solution to sustain the resource.
Vietnam is among the countries that rely heavily on groundwater and where exploitation is on the rise. Most provinces and cities nationwide exploit groundwater for both household and business use, with daily exploited groundwater reaching about five million cubic metres in total. The figure is predicted to rise to meet new demand pushed by urbanisation and development.-VNA
