Plan to prevent, combat and respond to saltwater intrusion

BDK.VN - It is predicted that the rainy season in 2025 will end earlier than the average of many years. Rainfall is deficient compared to the average of many years. Average temperature in the areas is higher. Saltwater intrusion in the dry season of 2025 - 2026 is likely to appear early, deep and last for a long time in the province at a level equivalent to and higher than the dry season of 2024 - 2025 and does not exclude extreme cases due to the impact of sluice works and dams in the upstream of the province and in localities bordering the province. Saltwater intrusion is likely to peak in January and March 2026, with some local times suddenly increasing. Salinity is high, penetrating deeply. Salinity >1‰ covers the whole province. Salinity of 4‰ penetrates about 53 - 67km from river mouths.

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Tran Ngoc Tam inspected Sa Ke sluice, Mo Cay Nam district in the saltwater storage compartment.

Operation of irrigation systems

According to Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Minh Canh, the province has issued a plan to prevent, combat and respond to saltwater intrusion. Thereby, sectors, local levels and people will proactively prevent and enhance their ability to respond to drought and salinity occurring in the province, minimizing damage to people, property, crops and livestock.

In Chau Thanh district, Ben Tre city, there are works under the Northern Ben Tre Irrigation System Project Phase 1 (dykes and sluices along Tien River, Tan Phu sluice, Ben Ro sluice, Song Ma sluice, Ba Lai reservoir, etc.) that have been put into use, basically controlling the water source from Tien River and Ham Luong River into Ba Lai River. Therefore, to ensure water supply for water plants, it is necessary to closely monitor the development of saline intrusion to operate irrigation works and pumping stations, in order to maximize water storage in the Ba Lai reservoir basin. At the same time, monitor the quality of water sources and ensure environmental sanitation.

In the districts of Giong Trom, Ba Tri, Binh Dai, there is the Ba Lai dam combined with the sluice works of the Northern Ben Tre Irrigation System Project Phase 1, Ben Ro and Tan Phu sluices of the Provincial Water Management Project (JICA3) combined with Trung Nhuan and Xeo Ran sluices, helping to control the water source of part of Giong Trom district on the Ba Lai side and Ba Tri district (mainly taking water from Ba Lai river, Kenh Lap reservoir). At the same time, the sluices under the Tien river dike have helped to control the salinity from the Tien river into Binh Dai district.

However, in the southern communes of Giong Trom district (bordering Ham Luong river), communes in the Thu Cuu river basin, Giong Trom river, Binh Chanh river, high salinity affects the water source of water plants due to direct impact from water sources on Ham Luong river, Ben Tre river.

The northern communes of Binh Dai district (bordering Tien river) may experience local water shortages due to the closure of sluices on the Tien river dyke to prevent salinity, and the water source from Ba Lai is not enough to supply the communes along the Tien river because some canals and streams have not been dredged. Therefore, water plants with water supply scope in the above areas are ready to transport raw water, treated water, connect water sources to factories with low salinity, supply water through RO systems, etc. to supply people in case of abnormally high salinity, and depleted water reserves. The Irrigation Works Exploitation Company Limited has a plan to flexibly operate the irrigation works system, Kenh Lap reservoir, to ensure maximum storage of water resources of Ba Lai river, Trung Nhuan - Xeo Ran water storage area, Kenh Lap reservoir and timely drainage to ensure water quality.

In Cho Lach district and the upstream communes (from Hoa Nghia to Phu Phung), the water source is basically guaranteed (salinity ≤1‰). In the remaining communes, it is necessary to increase the mobilization of people to store fresh water, carry out temporary works, and combine local water storage to store water for daily life and production. Water plants need to closely monitor the development of saltwater intrusion to operate water supply appropriately.

In Mo Cay Bac district, there are Sa Ke sluices, Giong Keo sluices, and Bung sluices combined with temporary salinity prevention solutions at Cai Hang sluice (under construction) to form the Cai Hang - Sa Ke water storage area, contributing to preventing salinity intrusion from Ham Luong River and Co Chien River to serve the daily life and production of communes in the west of Mo Cay Bac district, Mo Cay Nam town and some neighboring communes. At the same time, it provides raw water for the water plant of Mo Cay Water Supply and Drainage Company Limited to provide domestic water for more than 2,000 households in Mo Cay Nam and Mo Cay Bac districts when the water source on Mo Cay River is salinized.

However, in the northern area of ​​Mo Cay Bac district and Mo Cay Nam district (the area bordering Ham Luong river, Vam Nuoc Trong river, Cai Cam river, Cai Quao river, etc.), due to the incomplete irrigation system, saltwater intrusion affects surface water resources according to the tide. Therefore, in the above area, people need to proactively store water sources; water plants are ready to implement plans to connect water sources to water plants with low salinity in the area, supply water according to time frames, and provide concentrated water in case of prolonged saltwater intrusion.

Thanh Phu area has the Southern Ben Tre Irrigation System Project put into use. The saltwater prevention sluice works help control the water source from Ham Luong River for the area from Thanh Phu to Vam Cai Quao. The Co Chien River side controls the water source from Thanh Phu to Vam Thom.

However, the case of increased salinity intrusion will affect water storage areas such as Ca Chat - Phu Nu (affected when salinity at Vam Thom increases), Dong Khoi - Chin Thuoc (affected when salinity at Vam Cai Quao increases). Therefore, water plants with water supply scope in the above areas are ready with plans to transport raw water, treated water, connect water sources to plants with low salinity, supply water through RO systems,... to supply people in case of abnormally high salinity, and depleted water reserves. Irrigation Works Exploitation Company Limited has a plan to flexibly operate the irrigation system to promptly get fresh water, remove salinity, and ensure water quality.

Saltwater intrusion occurs at a severe level over a large area.

For water supply units operating centralized water supply points and RO salt filtration systems that were equipped during the drought and salinity periods of 2015 - 2016, 2019 - 2020 and 2023 - 2024 to supply domestic water to people; operating 2 raw water pumping stations of Chau Binh and Tan My water plants to take water from the sluice areas of Vam Ho, Nha Tho, Trung Nhuan, Xeo Ran to serve people in the area; buying water through the main meter from other water supply units;...

In case of severe and widespread saline intrusion (salinity of water supply to water plants >1‰ covering the entire province), the water reserves in the people are exhausted, in addition to continuing to implement the above response plan, it is necessary to implement a solution to transport raw fresh water from upstream to process and supply to water plants affected by high and prolonged salinity such as Tan Hao, Luong Phu, Long Dinh, Thoi Lai,...

Strengthen support for local water stations and factories to promptly supply water to people; transport water to supply hospitals, schools, restaurants, hotels, industrial parks, and operate built centralized water supply points to supply people.

In case of emergency, fire trucks can be mobilized to transport fresh water for drinking and daily activities of people and hospitals, businesses, industrial parks, schools, hotels, etc.; promptly request the Military Region to support forces and vehicles to transport fresh water to people in areas with water shortages. Adjust the water supply plan in order of priority: Domestic water for people. Drinking water for livestock. Water for irrigation of perennial crops with high economic value, etc.

For agricultural production, promptly assign technical staff to strengthen inspection work; promptly detect and handle when diseases arise in crops, livestock, and aquaculture, to limit damage. Statistics and assessment of damage caused by saltwater intrusion (if any) and promptly implement mechanisms and policies to support agricultural production to help people quickly overcome damage according to regulations. Issue a seasonal calendar in agricultural production; strengthen guidance for people to implement measures to protect crops, livestock, and aquatic products in conditions of saltwater intrusion.

Article and photos: Tran Quoc

 

Source: https://baodongkhoi.vn/phuong-an-phong-chong-ung-pho-voi-xam-nhap-man-30062025-a148967.html