Risks from unauthorized well drilling

- Due to prolonged drought, water resources for production and daily life have become very difficult to access in many localities. To obtain water, many households have resorted to drilling wells to extract groundwater. This is a temporary solution but carries many unforeseen risks.

Báo Tuyên Quang•25/04/2025

The family of Mr. D.NT, in Nong Tien ward ( Tuyen Quang city), recently hired a well driller hoping to secure a reliable water source for their production. Mr. D.NT explained that his family grows ornamental plants, requiring a large amount of water for daily irrigation, which tap water alone cannot meet. Therefore, he had to hire a drill to boreholes. According to Mr. T, despite drilling nearly 100 meters into the ground, they couldn't find any water, so both he and the driller gave up.

In the same Tuyen Quang city area, in Thai Long commune, the practice of people drilling wells on their own to find water for daily use has been going on for many years. According to preliminary statistics, out of 200 households in Hoa Binh village, 70 have drilled wells. Comrade Nguyen Phu Vien, Party Secretary and Head of the village, said: If one household drills a well, in a short time, the neighboring household with a dug well will run out of water. Without water for daily use, these households then hire others to drill wells.

Drilled wells are becoming increasingly common in Hoa Binh village, Thai Long commune (Tuyen Quang city).

As a result, the number of households drilling wells has increased. Not every drill hole found a water source immediately; many households had to drill in 2-3 locations before finding water. Drill holes that didn't find a water source were almost never properly sealed, creating gaps that risked surface waste seeping down and contaminating groundwater, not to mention causing land subsidence.

Not only in Tuyen Quang city, but also in the lower communes of Son Duong district, the number of households hiring well drillers to find water sources for daily life and production is increasing. According to Mr. DVB, the owner of a drilling machine in Truong Sinh commune (Son Duong), his drillers have no days off during this dry season. Mr. D. further shared: Climate change has caused water levels in rivers and streams to drop, which in turn has lowered groundwater levels, making the search for water sources very difficult. Many families have to drill several wells before finding a water source, which is hard work for the drillers and costly for the homeowners.

Comrade Vu Viet Hung, Head of the Department of Geology, Minerals and Water Resources (Department of Agriculture and Environment), stated: Drilling wells without proper planning will cause a serious decline in groundwater levels, leading to land subsidence in some areas. These spontaneously drilled wells often lack technical standards and proper protection systems, allowing domestic and industrial waste and other pollutants to easily infiltrate groundwater sources.

Unplanned groundwater extraction can affect the pressure and flow of centralized water supply systems, causing difficulties for households using this water source. When groundwater becomes scarce, the risk of disputes between users is entirely possible, leading to social disorder.

To address the issue of unauthorized well drilling, the Department of Agriculture and Environment has issued a document coordinating efforts to strengthen state management of water resources in the province. Accordingly, localities must strictly manage the exploitation and use of water resources and the discharge of wastewater into water sources within their areas; especially groundwater drilling activities, water extraction activities requiring permits as stipulated by regulations, strict management of areas with restricted groundwater extraction, and measures to strictly control groundwater extraction activities. Furthermore, efforts should be intensified to raise awareness about the importance of groundwater resources and the consequences of illegal water extraction.

Comrade Nguyen Phu Vien, Party Secretary and Head of Hoa Binh village, Thai Long commune (Tuyen Quang city), shared: To protect groundwater resources and limit the risks of subsidence and pollution caused by the current rampant well drilling, the province needs solutions to support people, especially in areas with water scarcity, in accessing clean and hygienic water sources through centralized water supply programs.

The drought may be temporary, but the consequences of uncontrolled groundwater extraction can be long-lasting and have negative impacts on the environment and people's lives in the future. Timely and effective action is crucial to protect this precious resource for today and tomorrow.