According to the Da Nang Water Supply Company (DAWACO), Tuesday saw the high salinity levels of the Cau Do (Red Bridge) River with about 450mg/l, while the permitted standard for tap water hovers around 250mg/l.

DAWACO urges a need to build a dam 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.

Still worse, the water level of between 1.59 and 1.63m was recently reported at the An Trach salinity prevention pumping station.

In reality, DAWACO has been sourcing water from the An Trach Dam instead of from the Red Bridge River, which has been suffering from saltwater intrusion in recent days.

As for solutions to severe salt-water contamination, over the past week, hydropower plants upstream of Vu Gia River such as Song Bung 4, A Vuong, Song Tranh 2 and Dak Mi 4 have discharged a large volume of water a so as to push the salinity out of the water.

However, by Monday evening, the water level of the Vu Gia River at the Ai Nghia Hydrological Station had remained at a record low of 1.85m.

In fact, a small amount of upstream water amid high tides due to the active north-east monsoon has resulted in severe salt-water contamination in the Red Bridge in recent days.

DAWACO General Director Ho Huong emphasised an urgent need to build a temporary water dam at the heavily eroded estuary of the Quang Hue River.

The intention is 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, instead of flowing into the Thu Bon River, hereby ensuring the sufficient water supply for the daily lives, and the agricultural and industrial production activities, of local citizens.

Accordingly, if approved by the Quang Nam provincial administration, DAWACO will implement the construction of the dam which will be made of gabions and sandbags.