proactively respond to the risk of saline water sources

2 spring water intakes

The annual Spring crop is considered the largest and most important crop in the provinces and cities of the Northern Midlands and Delta. Therefore, ensuring water sources for agricultural production for the people is of great concern to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development .

Based on the assessment of water resources and drought resistance capacity of localities, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has agreed with Vietnam Electricity Group to coordinate in organizing 2 water intake periods to serve the 2025 Spring rice crop in the Northern Midlands and Delta regions.

The risk of saline water sources cannot be ignored in the 2025 Spring crop.

Accordingly, there will be 2 water intake periods for the 2025 Spring crop. Specifically, the first period is from 0:00 on January 12 to 24:00 on January 16, 2025 (5 days); the second period is from 0:00 on February 8 to 24:00 on February 14, 2025 (7 days). The total time for the 2 water intake periods is 12 days.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the water level at the Hanoi Hydrological Station in the first phase will be maintained at an average of about 1.7m. In the second phase, hydropower plants will operate at maximum power generation capacity to increase water resources downstream; the average water level is expected to reach 1.7 - 1.9m at the Hanoi Hydrological Station, ensuring that irrigation works can operate to take water for spring crop production.

During the next 12 days of water intake, Vietnam Electricity Group commits to organizing the operation of hydropower plants to increase water supply downstream, ensuring the maintenance of water flow according to the water intake schedule; at the same time, ensuring a stable power source for the effective operation of water pumping stations.

Risk from saline water sources

Implementing the direction of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Hanoi and the provinces and cities in the Northern Midlands and Delta are currently focusing on developing appropriate water intake plans, ensuring sufficient water supply for cultivated areas that need to take water from the Red River system in two water intake periods.

Head of the Hanoi Department of Irrigation and Natural Disaster Prevention and Control Nguyen Duy Du said that the unit is urgently reviewing and assessing the water intake capacity of irrigation works along the river, corresponding to the expected water level during the two water intake periods. In particular, it is noted that the water level of the Red River may decrease due to fluctuations in the channel caused by floods after storm No. 3.

According to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Hoang Hiep, one of the issues that the Ministry is concerned about and calls attention to for provinces and cities is the salinity of water sources. Based on the assessment of the current situation, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has issued a document requesting the People's Committee of Hai Phong City and coastal provinces to direct relevant agencies to monitor salinity, assess and forecast the salinity intrusion situation in the downstream of rivers; proactively implement solutions to adapt to salinity intrusion, ensuring water sources for production and daily life.

Regarding Bac Hung Hai Irrigation Works Exploitation Company Limited, Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep said that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has given instructions to develop a specific plan to operate the Xuan Quan field pumping station; strengthen the organization of taking water back into the system through Cau Xe and An Tho sluices when salinity conditions allow (salinity ≤1‰).

“Localities that organize water collection from the Bac Hung Hai irrigation system, and water collection directly from external rivers, need to proactively measure salinity before taking water into the fields, ensuring the quality of water sources for agricultural production in the 2025 Spring crop…” - Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Hoang Hiep emphasized.

 

“For projects that are not able to effectively take water in the 2025 Spring crop, Hanoi and the provinces and cities in the Northern Midlands and Delta need to study and develop solutions to ensure adequate supply of alternative water sources, or convert production structures to suit water source conditions…” - Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Hoang Hiep .

Source: https://kinhtedothi.vn/chong-han-vu-xuan-2025-chu-dong-ung-pho-nguy-co-nguon-nuoc-bi-nhiem-man.html