In recent days, some areas in Da Nang have faced a shortage of tap water and weak water pressure, especially during peak hours. This matter of deep concern, hence, has adversely affected their daily lives. Meanwhile, some reservoirs for use by agricultural production are also encountering a lack of water. Competent agencies, therefore, are taking effective solutions to handle the current severe salinity and water shortage amid the ongoing hot weather.

Residents living on Le Van Si Street have complained about weak water pressure over recent days.

Since April, the city’s Cau Do (Red Bridge) River has been suffering from severe salt-water contamination. It was reported that the salinity level of the river have been and 1,742mg/, up to 7 times higher than the allowed limits. As a result, the salinity level of tap water for public use has been over 200mg/l, hereby making water become brackish.

In particular, some residential areas located on high terrains, or near many hotels are facing low water flow and pressure, and still worse, water supply interruptions occurring during peak hours.

“At around 11.00 am, the water flow starts to weaken, and water supply is cut from late at night until to the early morning. Washing machines and water heaters in some families did not work properly because they did not fill up with enough water for operation”, complained Mr Dang Hieu Dan, a resident living on Le Van Si Street.

The Da Nang Water Supply Company (DAWACO) says, in recent days, the demand for water has increased sharply due to the rapid population growth and a rise in the number of tourist arrivals to the city, which results in the overloaded capacity of the city’s water supply system.

Mr Ho Minh Nam, DAWACO’s Deputy General Director, explained, water shortage has occurred in Son Tra and Ngu Hanh Son districts due to the slow installation of a large-diameter water pipeline running through the Han River for additional water supplies. 

The city and elsewhere in the central region is expected to brace for hot weather, drought, and severe saline intrusion over the coming months of this year. The drought is expected to cause lower water levels at reservoirs, rivers, and springs in many localities in the regions of between 30 – 60% in comparison with the average of many years.

DAWACO is exerting every effort to source all possible water resources to ensure enough supplies for residents’ daily lives, agricultural and industrial production activities in the city in the coming time.

Mr Hoang Thanh Hoa, the Deputy Director of the city’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said that, his agency has suggested the municipal administration to send a written request to the Quang Nam Provincial People’s Committee and the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment to ask for adjustments to the operating procedures applicable to the Song Bung 4, A Vuong and Dak Mi 4 hydropower plants fro 11 May to 31 August.

In the current context of unfavourable weather conditions, many families should install water tanks to hold water for use rather than directly using tap water from public pipelines, and to maintain the efficient use of tap water during the current spell of hot weather.