Over recent days, the water levels of the Vu Gia and Yen rivers have been very low. By noon on Saturday, the water level of the Vu Gia River at the Ai Nghia Hydrological Station had lowered at 1.8m. As a result, water source has not been enough to ensure the smooth operation of the Ai Nghia Public Pumping Station.

On Saturday afternoon, the Song Bung 5 hydroelectric reservoir storing water, making river dry up

The main reason is thought that the Song Bung 4 hydropower reservoir stopped discharging water into the Vu Gia River from 18 - 20 February, and from 26 - 28 February upon request of the Quang Nam Province Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

By noon on Saturday, the water level of the Vu Gia River at the Ai Nghia Hydrological Station had lowered at 1.8m

Besides, the water level of the Yen River at the An Trach anti-Salinity Pumping Station has decreased to below 1.9m.

The upstream Vu Gia River dried up on Saturday afternoon

Meanwhile, at around 2.00 pm also on Saturday, the highest salinity level recorded at the Cau Do (Red Bridge) Water Supply Plant’s raw water intake gates was 3,762 mg/l, around 12.5 times higher than the allowed limits.

The salinity level of tap water was reported at 300 mg/l on Saturday

The increase in salinity at the  Cau Do Water Supply  Plant's raw water intake gates, and the low level of fresh water pumped from the An Trach Pumping Station have caused the slight hike in the salinity level of tap water.

The upstream of the temporary water dam has been built at the mouth of the Quang Hue River in Quang Nam Province’s Dai Loc District dried up on Saturday

Most notably, at 5.00pm on Saturday, the salinity level of tap water was reported at 300 mg/l, the maximum allowable conventional limit prescribed by the Ministry of Health.

Pumps at the Ai Nghia Public Pumping Station stopped working on Saturday because the water level of the Vu Gia River was very low.

It was reported that the Song Bung 4 hydropower reservoir discharged water at the capacity of 51m³/s at 9.00am on Saturday. However, the Song Bung 5 hydropower reservoir still stored water. Therefore, it is expected to take from 1-2 days to push the salinity out of the Cau Do Water Supply Plant’s raw water intake gates.

By HOANG HIEP - Translated by MAI DUNG