Saltwater intrusion affects people's lives in Hai Duong

There was a time when the salinity of water measured at Quy Cao bridge, Tu Ky district on March 9 exceeded the allowable level by more than 11 times; at Ba Nha Hydrological Station in Thanh Ha district on March 8, it exceeded the allowable level by more than 3 times; at Cau Xe sluice in Tu Ky district on March 4, it exceeded the allowable level by more than 9 times. It is forecasted that the salinity may last in the sluice gate areas closest to the sea. Vinh Lap commune is one of the 4 communes of Khu Ha Dong, Thanh Ha district, the commune closest to Hai Phong city, so the salinity level is often higher than in the inner communes. People here said that recent months have been the time when salinity has been recorded the most. There are areas where the salinity is nearly 10 times higher than the allowable level.

Mr. Pham Van Trong, Tu village, Vinh Lap commune, Thanh Ha district has been raising snails for several years now. Due to the recent salinity intrusion, his family lost 400-500 kg of parent snails due to not actively regulating the water source. To protect the snails raised at home, he had to dig 3 more ponds to store water in the garden. He let the salinized water settle in each pond for 5-7 days before releasing it into the snail pond. By doing this, the number of snails that died due to salinity was greatly reduced.

The salinity not only affects many farmers in the commune but also causes a shortage of domestic water in many households. Mr. Le Van Quat, Tu Y village, Vinh Lap commune, Thanh Ha district, said that the salinity period starts from mid-2023 to the beginning of the first quarter of 2024. All households in the village as well as his family cannot use water for eating and drinking because it is too salty. Households that grow rice are at high risk of losing everything. His family has to use rainwater stored in tanks for daily use. When the water is not salinized in the river, the water plant pumps water, and households have to use all household items to store tap water for gradual use.

Faced with the situation of saline water affecting production and daily life of people in the commune, Vinh Lap Commune Agricultural Service Cooperative has proactively collected information about the saline water situation. When there is information, the Cooperative will proactively close the sluice gate to prevent saline water from entering the inner fields. The Cooperative also recommends that households proactively store rainwater for use.

Mr. Pham Van Manh, Secretary of the Vinh Lap Commune Party Committee, said that Vinh Lap is one of the communes most severely affected by saltwater intrusion. Saltwater has affected the entire rice growing area and the people's domestic water source. The commune regularly coordinates with the district's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to proactively close the sluices between the main river and the inland river when there is a notice of saltwater intrusion. The commune also hopes that authorities at all levels will soon have the most practical solutions to limit saltwater intrusion, affecting production as well as people's lives.

On March 13, the Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention, Control and Search and Rescue of Hai Duong province requested districts and related units to strictly implement Official Dispatch No. 04/CD-TTg dated January 15, 2024 of the Prime Minister on proactively responding to the risk of drought, water shortage, and saltwater intrusion and Official Dispatch No. 668/UBND-VP dated March 10, 2023 of the Provincial People's Committee on responding to saltwater intrusion in Hai Duong province. Bac Hung Hai Irrigation Works Exploitation One Member Limited Liability Company and Hai Duong Province Irrigation Works Exploitation One Member Limited Liability Company proactively monitor saltwater intrusion and control saltwater intrusion when operating the irrigation system. Tu Ky, Thanh Ha districts and Kinh Mon town closely coordinate with irrigation works exploitation units to regularly monitor the status of saltwater intrusion; Identify water intakes that are likely to be affected by saltwater intrusion to proactively operate salinity control and develop response plans to saltwater intrusion.