Hoa Binh hydropower reservoir in Hoa Binh province. (Photo: VNA) Despite efforts, challenges persist in safeguarding water sources and reservoirsafety.
Weak and ineffective water resource management heightens the challenge,compounded by insufficient awareness and responsibility among stakeholders.Water pollution also continues to worsen.
Associate Professor Nguyen Dang Tinh, Deputy Director of the branch of theWater Resources University in Ho Chi Minh City, said that safety issuesconcerning water reservoirs built in the 1970s-1980s are a significant concern.
Urgent research is needed to enhance dam waterproofing and establish emergencyprotocols.
He also stressed the necessity of an integrated monitoring system for smartreservoir management and safety assessments, alongside digital transformationfor infrastructure improvements.
Professor Tang Duc Thang, former Deputy Director of the Vietnam Institute ofWater Resources Science, underscored the Mekong Delta's vulnerability toclimate change, sea-level rise and land subsidence, advocating adaptivestrategies to ensure a rational water regime and mitigate risks, especially inagriculture.
Additionally, it is vital to integrate water security, flood prevention, anddelta conservation into regional and national socio-economic planning.
This includes long-term strategies for water security, flood prevention acrossthe Mekong Delta, coastal erosion protection and combatting saline intrusion.
Moreover, proactive measures are needed to address freshwater scarcity,including feasibility studies for new reservoirs within the Vam Co Riversystem.
Lastly, research and forecasting of coastal water regimes are essential foraquaculture development in the Mekong Delta.
The Vietnam Institute of Water Resources Science reported significant progressin water resource management from 2013 to 2023.
Various advanced technologies, including water extraction, treatment, anddistribution systems for highlands and water-scarce regions, have been adoptednationwide.
Monitoring and flood control infrastructures are now operational in key riverbasins, such as the Huong and Vu Gia - Thu Bon rivers, aiding the Central SteeringCommittee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control in its decision-making.
Coastal protection efforts, such as planting wave-resistant trees, have beenimplemented in several provinces, including Thanh Hoa, Ninh Bih, Nam Dinh, QuangNinh, Ha Tinh, Quang Tri, Tra Vinh, Soc Trang, Ca Mau, Bac Lieu and Kien Giang.
Innovative embankment technologies and sediment replenishment are being utilisedin construction projects in Ca Mau province.
Additionally, comprehensive flood risk maps and mitigation strategies have beendeveloped for densely populated areas and urban, mountainous regions in theNorth, as well as downstream and storm surge-prone zones in coastal provinceslike Thanh Hoa, Quang Binh, Thua Thien - Hue and the Mekong Delta.
Advanced technologies like pile-supported dams, barrage dams and modularculverts have undergone extensive research and improvement, applied acrossvarious river control projects nationwide, including flood prevention in HCMCity and freshwater-saltwater barriers in the Mekong Delta such as the Cai Lon- Cai Be project.
Integration of scientific and technological advancements has resulted in a 20%reduction in irrigation water usage, yield increases of 5 to 11%, and reducedgreenhouse gas emissions in agriculture. Tailored flood prevention solutions,including devices and specialised pumping equipment, address specific regionalchallenges like flooding, drought and water scarcity.
Ongoing research focuses on adopting innovative technologies, particularly indigital water resource management, dam safety monitoring and improvingirrigation infrastructure efficiency. Advancements in surveying, design,materials, and construction techniques aim to ensure the safety of reservoirs,dams, river dikes, coastal dikes and disaster mitigation infrastructure,promoting rural development.
Policies and strategies for water security and dam safety are continuallyrefined.
According to Professor Nguyen Van Tinh, head of the National Science andTechnology Programme until 2030, the programme focuses on providing scientificevidence and practical support to enhance state management effectiveness,ensure water security, and ensure dam safety. It prioritises developing,applying, and transferring advanced technologies for efficient water resourcemanagement, socio-economic development, and climate change adaptation.
The programme has specific targets: 60% of tasks yielding results applied ortested successfully, 30% having intellectual property protection applicationsaccepted, with 10% obtaining exclusive patents or recognised solutions, and 20%involving business cooperation.
Implementation of the programme will comprehensively address scientific andtechnological challenges related to water security and dam safety. Thisincludes advanced solutions for water resource augmentation, efficientmanagement, circulation and waste reduction, alongside proposals for smart,modern and innovative technologies linked with digital transformation toenhance dam and reservoir safety and utilisation efficiency.
Vietnam is assessed as a country with relatively abundant water resources, withan average annual surface water volume of approximately 840 billion cubicmetres. The country's water infrastructure includes over 7,500 dams andreservoirs, capable of storing more than 70 billion cubic metres of water./.
VNA
