Last Friday, a conference took place in the city entitled “Seeking Solutions for Water Resources Management in Da Nang in the Context of Climate Change”.  The event was co-organised by the municipal People’s Committee, and the US Institute for Social and Environmental Transition (ISET).  Numerous practical solutions for the protection of local water resources were presented at the event.

Although Da Nang is blessed with an abundance of water resources, the city always faces severe flooding in the rainy season, and extreme drought in the dry season.  This is mainly attributed to the uneven distribution of rainfall, the steep terrain inland, and the short-distance river flow.  In particular, most of the water used for local residents’ daily lives, agricultural and industrial production, and the service sector is sourced from the Vu Gia River.

the Dak Mi 4 hydropower plant

Since 2012, the city’s Cau Do (Red Bridge) River has been suffering severe long-term salinity.  The main reason for the problem is the operation of hydropower plants, especially the Dak Mi 4 hydropower plant, on the upper sections of the Vu Gia and Thu Bon rivers.  This creates a shortage of water and salinity in the lower section of the Vu Gia River.  

In addition, the impacts of climate change and rising sea-levels are other reasons for the water shortages in the city.  As a result, all the sluice gates of Quang Nam Province’s An Trach Dam are forced to close to store water for the city.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the event, Viet Nam’s Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Mr Nguyen Thai Lai, stressed the need for nationwide relevant agencies to share water resources.  A focus would be on the construction of water-saving works and dams to prevent salination in the lower sections of the Vu Gia River.

Deputy Minister Lai urged ISET to finalise plans about climate change for the city.