Many lakes and dams run dry due to heat

Lai Bay Lake, one of the key irrigation projects of Thuan Chau district. The lake has a capacity of over 1.3 million m3, providing irrigation water for over 660 hectares of agricultural land and domestic water for thousands of households in the two communes of Phong Lai and Chieng Pha. However, due to the prolonged drought for many months now, plus the lake bed being silted up with mud and soil about 5m deep, the water level of the lake has dropped to near the dead water level. If the drought continues, the lake will dry up in about 1 month.

Mr. BUI DANG HUNG - Head of Thuan Chau Branch, Son La Irrigation Works Management and Exploitation Company Limited: We are building a new plan to provide suitable water. Previously, water was supplied 4-5 days/week, now it has been reduced to 3 days/week.

According to the design, this irrigation lake has a water capacity of over 400,000 m3. However, up to now, the lake only has about 70,000 m3 left. The regulation and supply of domestic water for the affected area of the project is also calculated very carefully.

Mr. VU MINH TRUONG - Manager of Noong Chay irrigation lake, Muoi Noi, Thuan Chau, Son La: "The water source is too scarce. The water supply for daily life is not as full as usual but must be divided by day, by week. People in need will request us, we will open the water for them to store in tanks for gradual use."

The prolonged heat has dried up all the water sources in this area, and Noong Chay Lake is a lifeline for many households. However, due to the irregular water supply schedule, people have to make the most of every moment. Water tanks have been invested in to store water for reserve.

Mr. TONG VAN VINH - Muoi Noi Village, Muoi Noi Commune, Thuan Chau District, Son La Province: “We only use water from the lake above. There is no clean water. There is no rainwater this year, it has been used up for a long time. If there is no water, we have to use water from the lake for daily activities.”

Son La Irrigation Works Management and Exploitation Company Limited is managing 110 large and small irrigation reservoirs, however, reservoirs with capacities ranging from 500,000 m3 to 3 million m3 are near dead water levels. Prolonged drought, along with the fact that most of the reservoirs have not been dredged for many years, has led to a significant reduction in water storage capacity compared to the design.

Mr. NGUYEN XUAN TRUONG - Deputy Director of Son La Irrigation Works Management and Exploitation Company Limited: "On all reservoirs, we are extending the water supply schedule to maintain, extend, and use to the maximum extent, effectively the remaining water in the reservoir to supply water to serve the people; at the same time, we are submitting to competent authorities for dredging and upgrading the reservoirs to store more water.)

Faced with prolonged heat, many localities in the province are also propagating to people not to sow rice at this time, and at the same time converting part of the rice-growing land area to grow other crops, using it economically and exploiting the maximum efficiency of water resources from existing lakes and irrigation dams./.

Performed by: An Hao

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