Vinh Phuc Water Resources Management Project - An effective solution to the flooding problem

Resolutely handling the prolonged flooding after heavy rains and protecting key industrial zones and residential areas from the disruption of natural disasters used to be an urgent issue in Vinh Phuc province (old). Implemented since 2017, the Vinh Phuc Water Resources and Flood Management Project with a total investment of more than VND 4,800 billion (of which the WB loan is nearly VND 3,200 billion) has officially affirmed its dual effectiveness, bringing stability and sustainable development to the locality.

Although the water level of Cau River and Ca Lo River is rising, thanks to the Vinh Phuc Flood and Water Resources Management Project, Vinh Yen Ward no longer experiences flooding.

Flooding fears and urgent needs

Faced with the rapid urbanization, the plain areas of Vinh Phuc province (old), especially key industrial parks such as Binh Xuyen, Ba Thien and Vinh Yen urban area, often face flooding.

When the weather changes abnormally, heavy rains last for a long time, the water level of Cau River and Ca Lo River rises, making the drainage capacity of Phan River extremely difficult. Even in the Cau Ton regulation area, water flows back from downstream to upstream, causing rainwater to be retained in lakes and ponds, causing prolonged local flooding. This situation not only causes serious damage to business production and agriculture but also disrupts the lives of hundreds of thousands of people.

Active flood control mechanism

The Vinh Phuc Flood and Water Management Project is built with dual goals: enhancing flood prevention and control capacity, improving ecological environment, and sustainable water resource management.

The project's operating mechanism is a proactive and flexible flood control system. Instead of relying on slow natural drainage, the project has implemented decisive technical solutions such as: Flood volume is actively pumped into Pho Day River and Red River through the Sau Vo pumping station and sluice system. During recent heavy rains, the total flood volume drained has reached over 35 million ^m3 of water, effectively protecting the area; the Cau Ton and Cau Sat regulating systems are flexibly operated to prevent water from Cau River from flowing back into Phan River and Ben Tre Canal.

The Cau Ton and Cau Sat regulating systems are operated flexibly to prevent water from the Cau River from flowing back into the Phan River and Ben Tre Canal.

Mr. Nguyen Duc Chinh - Director of Phuc Yen Irrigation Company Limited said: "Thanks to the Cau Sat regulating system, we have prevented water from stagnating from the Cau River, protecting the Vinh Yen urban area and Binh Xuyen Industrial Park. Without this regulating cluster, the water level in Vinh Yen could have risen by about 1.1m, causing widespread flooding."

The effectiveness of the project has been clearly demonstrated through recent major natural disasters. Typhoon Yagi in 2024 and especially the major storms in the 2025 rainy season (storms No. 10 and 11) caused widespread flooding in many localities, but the project area maintained stability.

The Cau Sat regulating system has prevented water from backing up from the Cau River, protecting Vinh Yen urban area and Binh Xuyen Industrial Park.

Ms. Do Thi Thanh Son, a resident of Vinh Yen ward, shared her joy: “Before 2022, Vinh Yen ward often experienced flooding. However, since 2023, this phenomenon has disappeared. The drainage system is operating smoothly, the environment is clean and beautiful, and the water is drained in and out in a regulated manner.”

Mr. Pham Van Thin from Vinh Yen ward also confirmed: "From 2023 until now, although there have been many heavy rains, thanks to the drainage system being put into operation, there is no more flooding or water stagnation like before."

Dual benefits and development vision

The project is not only a solution to prevent flooding but also an effective tool for water resource management, fully promoting the dual goal. In addition to flood control and protecting 712 ^km2 of area in 7 districts and cities of Vinh Phuc province (old) from flooding, the project also retains the necessary amount of water for agricultural production and ecology. Phuc Yen Irrigation Company has proactively closed the Cau Sat regulating cluster in the dry season to provide water for irrigation for 250 hectares of land in the area of ​​Phuc Yen city (old).

When the Vinh Phuc Water Resources and Flood Management Project was not yet operational, every time there was heavy rain, Vinh Yen city (old) was worried about widespread flooding.

To date, about 495,000 local people have directly benefited from the project, and about 100,000 people have indirectly benefited due to the reduction of scattered wastewater treatment sites along the Phan River.

The Vinh Phuc Flood and Water Management Project is not only a solution to prevent flooding but also an effective water resources management tool, fully promoting the dual goals.

The Vinh Phuc Water Resources and Flood Management Project has initially brought about positive results, contributing to the good management of water resources in a stable, ecological, sustainable direction, stabilizing life, and promoting socio-economic development.

Ngoc Thang

Source: https://baophutho.vn/du-an-quan-ly-nguon-nuoc-vinh-phuc-giai-phap-hieu-qua-cho-bai-toan-ngap-lut-240884.htm