Nghe An province is facing drought, leaving residents without access to clean water.

(Baonghean.vn) - To date, there has been no widespread depletion of drinking water sources. However, the hot, dry season has begun, requiring necessary solutions to ensure a minimum supply of drinking water for specific areas in the province.

People in Tho Son commune (Anh Son district) fetch water from a stream for daily use during the 2015 drought. Photo: Phung Van Mui, Huyen Trang

In particular, mountainous districts such as Tuong Duong, Ky Son, Con Cuong, Anh Son, Que Phong, Quy Chau, and Quy Hop, which rely heavily on gravity-fed water supply systems and small-scale projects such as dug wells and boreholes exploiting shallow groundwater on mountain slopes, will be depleted if the drought persists.

The northern districts of Nghe An province, such as Quynh Luu, Yen Thanh, and Dien Chau, are heavily dependent on the northern irrigation system.

Residents of Long Thanh commune (Yen Thanh district) choose products for installing water supply pipes. Photo: Hoang Vinh.

In particular, Hung Nguyen and Nghi Loc districts are the most disadvantaged areas, heavily dependent on the Southern Irrigation System which uses water from the Lam River. However, the water level of the Lam River at the Nam Dan sluice gate is often lower than the sluice gate's elevation during the dry season. Furthermore, saltwater intrusion often rises, so the Nghi Thiet and Ben Thuy sluice gates are unable to regulate the freshwater supply from the downstream Lam River.

To ensure a reliable supply of clean water for daily use, the Center for Rural Water Supply and Sanitation recommends that mountainous districts strengthen communication efforts, guide people on cleaning and maintaining water infrastructure, using water economically, and storing water.

In the northern districts of Nghe An province, the Northern Irrigation Company needs to maintain water levels within the system and prioritize water for domestic use. Specifically in Hung Nguyen and Nghi Loc districts, the Southern Irrigation Company needs to implement solutions for pumping water from the Lam River through the Nam Dan sluice gate, and the province must require the hydropower plants to regulate water levels in the Lam River.

Currently, the project "Upgrading and Expanding Water Supply Stations in Hung Nguyen District," encompassing the water supply stations in Hung Phuc, Hung Thang, and Hung Tan communes, aims to ensure access to clean water for localities most severely affected by drought. However, only 3 billion VND out of the 6 billion VND needed has been allocated so far.

Phu Huong

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