Ban Ve Hydropower Company increases water discharge to 'save' spring rice in downstream areas

Currently, the 2024 spring rice crop is entering the tillering period and is one of the peak water use periods. Pumping stations in the districts of Anh Son, Do Luong, Thanh Chuong, Nam Dan, Hung Nguyen... take water directly from the Ca River and pumping stations take water from the Southern irrigation system and the Northern irrigation system are operating at maximum capacity to provide irrigation water for agricultural production.

However, recently, the water level of the Ca River has dropped, and some pumping stations have been unable to operate at times. Hundreds of hectares of rice in Thanh Chuong and Do Luong districts have suffered from drought.

Many pumping stations along the Lam River in Thanh Chuong District have been out of operation for many days due to low river water levels. Photo: Phu Huong

To implement solutions to minimize the risk of water shortage for downstream areas, on February 23, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development held a meeting between the National Power System Control Center, Ban Ve Hydropower Company, Vietnam Electricity Development Joint Stock Company, Chi Khe Hydropower Joint Stock Company, People's Committees of Thanh Chuong, Do Luong, Hung Nguyen districts and related Departments and units to agree on a plan to regulate water in hydropower reservoirs.

To combat drought in the downstream area, from today (February 28), Ban Ve Hydropower Company has increased the discharge flow from ^75m3 /s to ^200m3 /s. This discharge level will be maintained for 3 consecutive days from February 28 to March 1.

The second increase in discharge flow will be carried out from March 20 to March 24 (discharge level of ^200m3 /s) and the third is expected from April 25 to April 29 with the discharge level increased from 120m3/s (discharge level according to daily procedures) to 200m3 ^/ s, to raise the water level of Lam River, ensuring that pumping stations can operate, providing timely water supply to downstream areas to serve drought prevention and spring crop production.

Ban Ve Hydropower Company started to increase the water discharge flow to 200m3/s from February 28, 2024. Photo: Phu Huong

“Following the Government's direction, hydropower plants are actively maintaining maximum water levels to ensure power generation during the peak period of May and June, especially this year which is forecasted to be a dry year, with very difficult water resources, affecting downstream water supply operations and power generation in the coming time. However, providing water for agricultural production is also one of the top priorities, so we will coordinate with the Department of Agriculture and localities to best serve production,” said a representative of Ban Ve Hydropower Company.

During the process of increasing water discharge, units will base on the actual situation of water use and weather conditions to discharge water from hydroelectric reservoirs with appropriate water flow and time, ensuring water supply for production and people's lives in downstream areas effectively and economically.

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