On March 27, in Can Tho city, Tien Phong Newspaper in collaboration with Can Tho University organized a workshop "Living with drought and salinity in the Mekong Delta".
The workshop was attended by leading experts in the fields of water resources and climate change, representing 7 localities suffering from severe drought and saltwater intrusion, namely Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Tra Vinh, and Hau Giang provinces. Giang, Soc Trang, Ca Mau, Kien Giang and businesses providing clean water in the Mekong Delta.
Drought and saltwater intrusion are hot and urgent problems in the Mekong Delta region
According to data from the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, from the second half of December until now, there has been almost no rain in the entire Mekong Delta. Total rainfall during this time is 12-62% lower than the average for many years. With almost no rain and prolonged sunshine, the total flow from the Mekong River is lacking, causing the Mekong Delta to experience a severe drought and saltwater season.
Data from the Southern Regional Hydrometeorological Station shows that saltwater intrusion in the dry season of 2023 - 2024 is coming earlier and deeper than average for many years. Right from the second half of November 11, salinity has begun to enter the rivers following the peak tide of the day. From December until now, many waves of saltwater intrusion have continued to occur, with the peak being in March. The saltwater intrusion appeared from March 2023 to 12 with a salinity boundary of 3‰ reaching a depth of 8-13 km, with deeper place.
Up to now, the level of saltwater intrusion in Soc Trang, Long An, Tra Vinh, and Tien Giang is generally higher than the average for many years, approximately compared to 2016 - one of the record years of drought and saltwater intrusion in the Mekong Delta. Particularly in Ben Tre province, salinity intrusion is approximately at the deepest saline boundary in 2016, saline intrusion on the Co Chien River is deeper than the deepest salinity boundary in 2016.
Resolution 120 of the Government on sustainable development of the Mekong Delta emphasizes the favorable viewpoint. It points out that the development of the Mekong Delta must respect natural laws, be consistent with actual conditions, and avoid violent interference with nature; Choose a model that adapts to nature, is environmentally friendly and develops sustainably with the motto of proactively living with floods, inundation, brackish water and salt water.
Speaking at the conference, Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Hieu Trung, Vice President of Can Tho University, climate change - rising sea levels have caused many negative impacts on the ecological environment and community livelihoods. population in the Mekong Delta region.
Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Hieu Trung said that although there have been a number of solutions applied to control saltwater intrusion in the locality such as: Quan Lo - Phung Hiep irrigation system; irrigation system to freshen and prevent salinity in Ben Tre province; Ba Lai dam culvert, sea dyke system for the entire coastal system of the Mekong Delta... However, the saltwater intrusion situation is still occurring with increasing intensity and complexity and is unpredictable.
Solutions to cope with the increasingly serious drought and saline situation
At the conference, experts, scientists and managers shared and proposed many creative solutions to cope with the increasingly serious drought and salinity situation in the Mekong Delta region.
Vice Chairman of Can Tho City People's Committee Nguyen Ngoc He said: Due to Can Tho City's geographical location, water source conditions are relatively more favorable than some provinces in the region. However, facing the increasingly clear impact of climate change, natural disasters, and human disasters, the city is always on high alert, not subjective or negligent in proactively responding and adapt to the drought and salinity situation that has been occurring throughout the Mekong Delta.
According to Vice Chairman of Can Tho City People's Committee, the city is located about 80km away from the East Sea. Currently, the main direction of saltwater intrusion is only in the direction of the Hau River (due to the tide pushing saltwater from the sea along the Hau River). The area that may be directly affected is Cai Rang district.
In the past 15 years, Can Tho City recorded two episodes of saltwater intrusion along the Hau River to Cai Cui port in Tan Phu ward, Cai Rang district (bordering Hau Giang province) in 2 and 2016.
“This shows that the impact of climate change, the impact of natural disasters and human disasters (such as operating hydroelectric plants, upstream reservoirs...), is increasingly extreme, severe, irregular and unpredictable. Saltwater intrusion is more and more frequent than in the past," said Vice Chairman of Can Tho City People's Committee Nguyen Ngoc He.
To proactively prevent and adapt to drought, water shortage, and saltwater intrusion, Can Tho City has done a good job of forecasting and communication to provide timely, accurate, and complete information to authorities at all levels and people. people about the risk of drought and saltwater intrusion.
Besides, the city also organizes the operation of irrigation works properly; Develop scenarios to respond and adapt to drought, water shortage, and saltwater intrusion in accordance with the actual situation of each district...
Dr. Tran Huu Hiep, former Full-time Member, Director of the Economic Department, Southwest Steering Committee (expert on economics and agriculture in the delta) said: The heat of drought and salinity comes from reality in the past few months. past, especially March, so choosing the topic of living with drought and salinity is very appropriate. If we look back at the history of formation and development, from the beginning, people in the Mekong Delta chose to live together, but depending on the time, they were aware and had adaptive solutions.
The Mekong Delta has 2 seasons: rainy and dry. Thus, from practical experience, local knowledge of the people is formed in living and producing according to natural ecological conditions to adapt to the seasons. “We once lived with floods and now live with drought and saltwater intrusion, but how to live together must have two prerequisite issues: practical requirements and having favorable adaptive solutions. If it is reflected, it is consistent with the vision and orientation determined in the resolution to develop the Mekong Delta region," Mr. Hiep shared.
Mr. Hiep stated that the solution needs to focus on "3 needs - 4 yeses". That is, there needs to be early forecasting, in addition to information channels and social networks to reach all people; proactively adapt and become the red thread throughout; Considering drought and saltwater intrusion as a cyclical characteristic, there may be suggestions to build economic scenarios, organize population life accordingly and strengthen regional links between localities.
Four yes, such as announcing regular updates of drought and salinity maps; proactively regulate irrigation systems according to strict operating mechanisms. In addition to urgent solutions and handling situations, structural solutions are needed, but the principle of 'no regrets' must be set; Strengthen international cooperation, take advantage of the institutions of the Mekong River Commission,...
