In order to tackle the problem of salinity intrusion and water scarcity in Da Nang, especially amid the ongoing shift to the El Nino phenomenon, it is high time for the city, as soon as possible to take urgent actions.

The low water level is seen at the Cau Do Water Supply Plant’s raw water reservoir

Included are the enhancement of the effective operation of water supply plants, and the building of a dam at the mouth of the Quang Hue River in order to ensure the majority of the water flow from this river will be released into the Vu Gia River whose tributary flows into the city-located Cau Do River.

During his working session with the leaders of the Da Nang Water Supply Company (DAWACO), Mr Chau Tran Vinh, the Deputy Head of the national Water Resources Management Department, pointed out to the fact that the problem water scarcity amid the low salinity levels of the Cau Do (Red Bridge) River over recent days was mainly attributed to the ineffective water plant operation.

In reality, DAWACO has been sourcing raw water from the An Trach Dam instead of from the Red Bridge River, which has been suffering from salinity for a long time.

Since the start of this month, the salinity level of the Cau Do River has reached as high as 1,000mg/l, while the permitted standard for tap water hovers around 250mg/l.

Despite its full operation, the An Trach pumping station now only supplies about 210,000m3 of  raw water per day, a shortfall of up to 70,000m³ of water per day on the city’s real demand for tap water.

The main reason was confirmed that the capacity of the pipes which transport raw water from the pumping station to the Red Bridge and International Airport water supply plants for water production activities is low. Of note, the pipe system has been yet to be upgraded since 2007.

Mr Vinh underlined an urgent need for DAWACO to seek solutions to increase its  water sources. At the same time, he also asked relevant agencies to ensure closer coordination in a bid to ensure the sufficient water supply for the daily lives, and the agricultural and industrial production activities, of local citizens.

According to domestic experts on water resources, the problem of salt-water contamination and water shortage in Da Nang is expected to become more complicated due to the negative impacts of the El Nino phenomenon.

Deputy Director of the city's Agriculture and Rural Development Department Huynh Van Thang emphasised that a dam should be built as soon as possible at the mouth of the Quang Hue River in order to ensure the majority of the water flow from this river will be released into the Vu Gia River.

The dam will be made of gabions and sandbags.

A dam should be built as soon as possible at the mouth of the Quang Hue River in order to ensure the majority of the water flow from this river will be released into the Vu Gia River.

The municipal People’s Committee will also ask the Vietnamese Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources to order water releases into the lower sections from the hydropower plants’ reservoirs in the upstream of the Vu Gia- Thu Bon rivers in Quang Nam Province.

Accordingly, from now until April 2019, DAWACO will accelerate the 1^st stage of the ongoing upgrading of the Cau Do Water Plant with daily capacity of 60,000m³ of water in Cam Le District, and the Hoa Trung Water Supply Plant with a daily capacity of 10,000m³ of water at the Da Nang Hi-tech Park in Hoa Vang District’s Hoa Lien Commune.

Once it is fully operational, the Hoa Trung Water Supply Plant will ensure sufficient water supplies to all businesses operating at the Hi-tech Park as well as residents living on the northwest side of the city. 

The 1^st stage of the Hoa Lien Water Supply Plant, with a daily capacity of 120,000m3 of water is scheduled to be completed by late 2020.