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In the context of escalating climate change, Vietnam’s water resources is facing with a series of challenges. Water resource security requires transnational cooperation and harmonization of benefit sharing among agencies.
*Risk of water shortage and contaminated water
Despite being considered a rich country in terms of water resources, Vietnam is facing problems of water scarcity and contaminated water.
The question of water shortage came under people’s suspicion. It is impossible to be in short of water as Vietnam has dense river network, high annual average rainfall in world ranking.
The reason of the lack of sustainability of water resources lies in the fact that the water resources Vietnam exploits and uses is subject to water resources outside the country’s territory at about 60 percent. In other words, water resources sustainability in Vietnam depends on how water resources is exploited and used in neighboring countries. Heavy water usage, management of mutual flow of water and water pollution in the upstream countries pose direct impacts on Vietnam’s water resources.
Not to mention, water resources in such countries is exploited and used unsustainably, irrationally and low efficiently. Because of overexploited river basins, the intense water scarcity is getting worse. Meanwhile, there is no fair and rational shared mechanism of water demand. Disputes over the use of water between upstream and downstream areas and over the purpose of water use are on the rise.
In addition, due to the high population density, the average water volume per capita is 4,200 cubic meters at low level in world ranking.
In spite of dense river network and high rainfall, uneven water distribution leads to water shortage in Vietnam.
While high volume of water is in Cuu Long Delta, low volume of water is in the densely populated and heavily concentrated manufacturing areas. For example, in the southeast of Vietnam and Dong Nai – Sai Gon basin where many industrial parks and a large number of population are located, the average water volume per capita is approximately 30 percent compared to the average national water volume.
In addition to the uneven water distribution among regions, there is a stark difference in water volume among months and years. Consequently, severe drought and water scarcity in dry season every year have direct negative effects on people’s livelihood and production.
The risk of contaminated water comes from urbanization, industrialization and climate change.
Quite a few river and streams are contaminated by wastewater from industrial parks and resident areas. Underground water resources is also polluted.
For the past few years, climate change has caused rising sea levels and land encroachment, thus leading to severe salinization in freshwater area. In the future, it is likely that salinized water and land expand and do more harm.
Extreme weather and climate change and unstable water resources are possible to cause disaster.
*Cooperation and benefit sharing
Water resources security is one of the most important issues in the world, especially in downstream countries like Vietnam.
Aware of the issue, the National Strategy on water to 2020 specifies “cooperation, benefit sharing, equality guarantee, rational exploitation and use of water, water resources protection, prevention from water-related incidents in international rivers and river basins in the principles of respect for each other’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity and national security”.
In early 2014, Prime Minister approved the National action plan on enhancing management, protection and water use during the period of 2014 – 2020.
Under the plan, the management, exploitation, use and protection of water resources is implemented collectively, comprehensively and efficiently in order to preserve the national water resources for the near and long-term future, contribute to sustainable development and environmental protection, maintain social welfare and national defence in the context of climate change, rising sea level and water scarcity.
As Vietnam’s water resources depend on water resources outside territory, it is necessary to cooperate with neighboring countries in benefit sharing and to negotiate for a harmonization of parties’ benefits.
Phạm Oanh
Đăng ký: VietNam News
