Since the start of the Lunar New Year 2019, the An Trach Pumping Station has been operating at full capacity to provide enough tap water supplies for daily lives of local citizens over the Tet holiday due to the recent high salinity levels of the Cau Do (Red Bridge) River.

Recent days have seen a significant increase in the salinity of the Red Bridge River

According to General Director of the Da Nang Water Supply Company (DAWACO) Ho Huong, recent days have seen a significant increase in the salinity of the river. In particular, the salinity levels of the river have been between 100mg/l and 500mg/l. The highest salinity levels recorded on Thursday morning (the 3^rd day of the 1^st lunar month) were 600mg/l, around 2 times higher than the allowed limits.

He added the high salinity level of the river has resulted in a shortage of tap water, which has adversely affected daily lives of local citizens.

In an effort to handle this problem, DAWACO has been sourcing water from the An Trach Dam instead of from the Red Bridge River in order to ensure safe water supply for the city.

From 28 January - 7 February, the water level of the Vu Gia River at the Ai Nghia Hydrological Station remained at a record low of between 2.1m and 2.35m.

“On 4 February (the 30^th day of the 12^th lunar month), DAWACO operated the An Trach Pumping Station with full of capacity to supply around 292,000m³ of freshwater, equivalent to that during the peak period of summer season. In recent days, the city’s tap water consumption capacity has decreased to between 230,000m³ and 240,000m³ per day” Mr Huong added.

Most notably, from 28 January - 7 February, the water level of the Vu Gia River at the Ai Nghia Hydrological Station remained at a record low of between 2.1m and 2.35m.

Meanwhile, the water level from the Vu Gia to Yen rivers has been very low, so there has been a decrease of the freshwater flow from the upstream of An Trach Dam ranging from 1.6m to 1.9m, between 10 and 40cm lower than allowed limits.

“If the salinity levels of the Red Bridge River reach 1,000mg / l and the water level of the Yen River continues to decline, DAWACO will discharge water from hydropower reservoirs in the upstream of the Vu Gia River to ensure enough fresh water supplies for locals in the time ahead”, Director Huong emphasised.