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 system
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, ensuring environmental sanitation.
In the districts of Giong Trom, Ba Tri, Binh Dai, there is the Ba Lai dam combined with other dams under the Northern Ben Tre Irrigation System Project Phase 1, Ben Ro and Tan Phu sluices under the Provincial Water Management Project (JICA3) combined with Trung Nhuan and Xeo Ran sluices, helping to control the water source in part of Giong Trom district on the Ba Lai side and Ba Tri district (mainly taking water from the Ba Lai River and Kenh Lap reservoir). At the same time, the sluices under the Tien River dike have helped control salinity from the Tien River into the Binh Dai district area.
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 to the communes along Tien river because some canals and ditches 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 the water reserves of the people are exhausted. 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 from Ba Lai river, Trung Nhuan - Xeo Ran water storage area, Kenh Lap reservoir and timely drainage to ensure water quality.
In Cho Lach district, the upstream communes (from Hoa Nghia to Phu Phung) have basically guaranteed water sources (salinity ≤1‰). In the remaining communes, it is necessary to increase the mobilization of people to store fresh water, implement temporary works, and combine local water storage to store water for daily life and production. Water plants need to closely monitor the development of salinity intrusion to operate water supply appropriately.
In Mo Cay Bac district, there are Sa Ke sluices, Giong Keo sluices, 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, Co Chien River to serve daily life and production for communes in the west of Mo Cay Bac district, Mo Cay Nam town and some neighboring communes. At the same time, providing 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, saline intrusion affects surface water sources 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 low-salinity water plants in the area, supply water according to time frames, and provide concentrated water in case of prolonged saline intrusion.
Thanh Phu area has the Ben Tre South 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 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 the water reserves of the people are exhausted. The Irrigation Works Exploitation Company Limited has a plan to flexibly operate the irrigation system to promptly take fresh water, remove salinity, and ensure water quality.
The case of severe saltwater intrusion on a large scale
For water supply units operating centralized water supply points and RO salinity 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; purchasing 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 of 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 water plants affected by high and prolonged salinity such as Tan Hao, Luong Phu, Long Dinh, Thoi Lai,...
Increase 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 means 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. Irrigation water for perennial crops with high economic value, etc.
For agricultural production, promptly assign technical staff to strengthen inspection work; promptly detect and handle when diseases occur in crops, livestock, and aquaculture, to limit damage. Collect statistics and assess 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
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