Can Tho City struggles to find water during the dry season.

Currently, Can Tho City's clean water supply only meets about 80% of urban needs, and only 68% of rural areas have access to centralized water supply. Can Tho has activated emergency measures to ensure access to clean water as a top priority.

It's not just an infrastructure issue.

Faced with the predicted severe drought and saltwater intrusion in 2026, the People's Committee of Can Tho City has issued a directive requiring the implementation of emergency measures to ensure the supply of clean water, especially during the Lunar New Year holiday.

Instead of a passive approach, the city shifted to a "situational response" mindset. Water supply units had to inspect all plants, pumping stations, and pipeline networks; repair and upgrade them to ensure continuous water supply. Backup wells for salinity control had to be operated periodically, ready for extraction when surface water sources were affected by salinity.

Water supply units must inspect all plants, supply stations, and pipeline networks; repair and upgrade them to ensure continuous water supply.

In case of localized water shortages, open free water distribution points and use water tankers to transport water to hospitals, schools, and key residential areas.

Notably, Can Tho allows some projects to exceed their permitted flow rates in emergency situations, accompanied by strict reporting and monitoring mechanisms. This is a "flexible" decision, prioritizing the needs of the people over administrative procedures.

In rural areas, the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Center drills an additional 1-2 wells per station as a backup, and temporarily operates exploratory wells to ensure timely water supply for the people.

However, viewing the issue solely from the perspective of "lack of infrastructure" overlooks the core problem. Can Tho is currently facing a double pressure: declining surface water resources due to changes in river flow and earlier saltwater intrusion, while water demand is rapidly increasing with the pace of urbanization and industrialization. The water supply system, designed for the population and production scale of the past, is now struggling to meet future demands.

From "firefighting" to long-term strategy

Therefore, the solutions outlined in the document are not only technical but also administrative. Clean water is no longer solely the responsibility of water supply companies, but the responsibility of the entire government system. Specifically, the Department of Agriculture and Environment closely monitors meteorological developments; the Department of Health controls water quality; the Department of Industry and Trade ensures stable electricity supply to water treatment plants; and local authorities educate people on water storage, economical use, and organize rotational water supply when necessary…

Previously, on January 27th, the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Can Tho City announced that Can Tho City was urgently deploying 37 free clean water distribution points to be operational before the Lunar New Year for people in coastal areas affected by drought and saltwater intrusion.

Alongside emergency measures that only helped the city "get through the crisis," in the long term, Can Tho has been preparing a strategy to reduce dependence on groundwater, increase investment in stable surface water sources, connect with Hau Giang , Soc Trang, and Kien Giang (formerly); and develop a backup system for extreme salinity scenarios.

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/tp-can-tho-chay-nuoc-mua-kho.html