The Mekong Delta is seeing increasing saltwater intrusion caused by high tides this week, with salinity boundary of 4 g/l likely to penetrate up to 65km upstream, according the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Directorate of Water Resources.
A saltwater prevention sluice in Vi Thanh City, the Mekong Delta province of Hau Giang. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – The Mekong Delta is seeingincreasing saltwater intrusion caused by high tides this week, with salinityboundary of 4 g/l likely to penetrate up to 65km upstream, according the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Directorate of Water Resources.
The agency forecast that saltwater is expected to enter 35-50km deep into estuariesof the Mekong River, 55-65km into Vam Co River and 35-45km into Cai LonRiver this week.
Though saline intrusion started affecting irrigation in areas35-45km upstream during days when tides are high, freshwater supply remainssufficient for agricultural production.
In March, the salinity boundary of 4 g/l is predicted topenetrate 55-65km inland, 10-20km lower than that in 2020.
Saline intrusion is expected to decline from April.
Since early this year, the Ministry of Agriculture and RuralDevelopment has urged affected provinces to speed up cultivation of new cropsand instruct farmers to store water in small ponds and lakes insidetheir farms, said Luong Van Anh, deputy head of the Directorate of WaterResources.
As a result, saline intrusion has so far had little impact onagricultural production, Anhsaid, adding that the completion of the Cai Lon-Cai Be irrigation system has greatly benefited Kien Giang, Hau Giang and Ca Mau provinces./.
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A saltwater prevention sluice in Vi Thanh City, the Mekong Delta province of Hau Giang. (Photo: VNA)
