Groundwater has seriously declined in many localities in Vietnam

“These [meetings] will form the basic foundation for managers to better regulate water usage,” Pham Van Giang, director of the union said.

In Ho Chi Minh City, some 600,000cu.m of groundwater is exploited every day though only half legally.

As a result both the quantity and quality of groundwater have seriously declined.

To reverse the situation, Pham Van Hung, a scientist, said: “The city should carry out an overall investigation of groundwater use by households and then prepare a master plan to manage it.”

He also called for promoting research to conserve water.

Other experts tabled reports about exploitation of the two biggest river systems in the south, the Dong Nai and the Mekong.

More than 60 scientists based in southern Vietnam attended the conference.