Danang faces serious freshwater shortage
The authorities in Danang and Quang Nam Province are seeking ways to cope with fresh water shortages and saltwater intrusion.
Ho Huong, director of Danang Water Supply JSC said that saltwater intrusion in Cau Do River was the cause of the shortage. Moreover, this year’s rainfall has been extremely low so the hydro-reservoirs can't discharge. Huong pointed out that the water pipes from An Trach Pump Station to Cau Do Station have the capacity to transfer 210,000 cubic metres per day while the demand in Danang is 270,000 cubic metres a day.
The company has to stop providing fresh water to each residential block alternatively to save as much water as possible.
According to Danang Department of Natural Resources and Environment, the salinity levels in the Cau Do River were four times higher than permitted from November 4 to 7, while a large number of places in the city lack fresh water. Dak Mi Hydropower Plant had to discharge water to resolve this issue.
However, according to the hydropower plants in Quang Nam and Danang, they are also facing a crisis due to low rainfall. The representative of A Vuong Hydropower Plant said that the water in their reservoir was only 1.1 metres higher than the minimum supply level and the rainfall on Vu Gia River was at its lowest level since 1977.
Song Tranh Hydropower Plant is also in the same situation. Their reservoir was filled with about 70 cubic metres of water per second in October, accounting for 27% of previous years. This number dropped to 43.5 cubic metres per second in November. Hoi An Town and Duy An Commune are also facing serious saltwater intrusion.
Vinh confirmed that the water levels at reservoirs were 70-80% lower than previous years. It's highly likely that drought will affect the Vu Gia-Thu Bon River basin next summer and autumn.
Hydropower plants have been asked to work closely with the provincial authorities. Danang Water Supply JSC was asked to review and improve their operation since field survey shows that the water supply to Cau Do Pump Station is sufficient.
Cau Do Pump Station
Ho Huong, director of Danang Water Supply JSC said that saltwater intrusion in Cau Do River was the cause of the shortage. Moreover, this year’s rainfall has been extremely low so the hydro-reservoirs can't discharge. Huong pointed out that the water pipes from An Trach Pump Station to Cau Do Station have the capacity to transfer 210,000 cubic metres per day while the demand in Danang is 270,000 cubic metres a day.
The company has to stop providing fresh water to each residential block alternatively to save as much water as possible.
According to Danang Department of Natural Resources and Environment, the salinity levels in the Cau Do River were four times higher than permitted from November 4 to 7, while a large number of places in the city lack fresh water. Dak Mi Hydropower Plant had to discharge water to resolve this issue.
However, according to the hydropower plants in Quang Nam and Danang, they are also facing a crisis due to low rainfall. The representative of A Vuong Hydropower Plant said that the water in their reservoir was only 1.1 metres higher than the minimum supply level and the rainfall on Vu Gia River was at its lowest level since 1977.
Song Tranh Hydropower Plant is also in the same situation. Their reservoir was filled with about 70 cubic metres of water per second in October, accounting for 27% of previous years. This number dropped to 43.5 cubic metres per second in November. Hoi An Town and Duy An Commune are also facing serious saltwater intrusion.
Vinh confirmed that the water levels at reservoirs were 70-80% lower than previous years. It's highly likely that drought will affect the Vu Gia-Thu Bon River basin next summer and autumn.
Hydropower plants have been asked to work closely with the provincial authorities. Danang Water Supply JSC was asked to review and improve their operation since field survey shows that the water supply to Cau Do Pump Station is sufficient.
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