Chaotic exploitation leads to water shortage
According to Dr Ngo Dinh Tuan, Chair of the Scientific Council of the Institute for Water Resources and Environment in East Asia, the average surface water per capita in Vietnam in 2010 was 3850 cubic meter per annum. The figure puts Vietnam into the list of the countries that face a water shortage which comprises of the countries with the average surface water per capita is 4000 cubic meter or less, in accordance with the standards of the International Water Resources Association IWRA.
According to Dr Bui Cong Quang from the Water Resources University, if referring to the above said standard, with the current population and development level, the Dong Nai river basin and the basins of the rivers in the east of the southern region are facing occasional water shortage, while the Red River, Ma and Con Rivers in the north are nearly approaching the level.
The chaotic exploitation of water has been blamed on the water shortage. Experts say the overexploitation has gone beyond the withstanding of the ecological system.
Do Hong Phan, Chief Advisor of the Vietnam Water Network, said that most of the river basin committees, which have been established in the country, have not played any role in the coordination and control of water exploitation.
Two committees, the Environment Protection Committee of Dong Nai River Basin Planning and the Management Board of Dong Nai River Basin, both take the responsibility for Dong Nai River in the south. However, scientists say the two committees have been operating separately from each other. That explains why they keep different viewpoints on the treatment to Dong Nai 6 and Dong Nai 6A hydropower plant projects
On most of the river valleys in the east of the southern region, more than 75 percent of water volume in the dry season is exploited. As for Ma River, the proportion is up to 80 percent. The proportions show that the water overexploitation has created the unsustainability to the valleys.
It is estimated that Vietnam consumes some 80.6 billion cubic meter of water a year for different purposes. The volume of water to be consumed by 2020 would increase by 48 percent, or 120 billion cubic meters. Of this, the volume of water to be needed for watering would increase by 30 percent, while the water for aquaculture would increase by 90 percent. Especially, the water for urban areas and industrial production would increase sharply by 150 percent and 190 percent, respectively.
Scientists have warned that the water demand would increase significantly on the river valleys of Tra Khuc, Con, Ba, Se San, Sre Pok and the river valleys in the east of the southern region.
Red alert for Dong Nai River valley
Population forecasts say that by 2020, the Red River, Ma, Con valleys and the river valleys in the east of the southern region would not be short of water if they can be managed well. However, it is more likely to see the Dong Nai River valley going towards the threshold of water shortage.
There are about 20 million people living on the Dong Nai River area. This is the most dynamic economic region in the country, which is considered the motive force of the national economy as it makes up 1/3 of the total GDP. Therefore, scientists have warned that the water degradation in the river valley would cause serious consequences to the competitiveness of the whole country.
Meanwhile, the river which has the water volume just accounting for 1/3 of the average volume of the country, is still bearing the hydropower plants built on the upstream.
Source: Tien phong
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