Managing and using water resources reasonably to adapt to climate change

Quang Tri is one of the localities with harsh weather, frequent storms and floods, and erratic droughts, which have directly and seriously affected water resources in the province. Given the current situation due to climatic and hydrological conditions, the impact of climate change, and human impacts such as overexploitation, wasteful use, and pollution, clean water is becoming increasingly scarce, requiring appropriate management and adaptation measures.

Clean water system is invested in construction in A Vao commune, Dakrong district - Photo: KS

Quang Tri has a dense river system, evenly distributed, favorable hydrological conditions providing abundant water resources for production and people's lives, and at the same time has the potential to exploit and build medium and small hydropower plants.

However, due to the province's terrain conditions, there is a system of short, steep, narrow riverbeds, all originating from the Truong Son range, flowing through high mountains and hills to the plains and pouring into the sea with a fairly high density of rivers and streams, causing the province's terrain to be strongly fragmented, and the vegetation cover in the upstream area to be severely damaged.

This is the cause of complex changes in the flow, in the dry season most of the streams in the headwaters dry up, the tide penetrates 20-25 km deep inland; in the rainy season, flood water concentrates nearly 90% of the basin area into narrow plains; floods and inundation in the plains often occur during heavy rains and storms; flash floods often occur in mountainous and hilly areas, causing extreme weather phenomena, reducing the quality and degradation of water resources, increasing saltwater intrusion and rising sea levels.

Currently, the salinity prevention system in dams and sluices of rivers in the province has been invested and put into effect. However, when the sea level rises, it will cause difficulties in drainage during the dry season, salinity concentration increases, water stagnates, affecting the water quality in the river, leading to increased river water pollution.

Therefore, aquaculture areas will be affected by increased salinity, polluted water environment will lead to reduced quality and output of aquaculture. Competition for water use demand in many different industries is increasing, in the context of increasingly poor water quality.

In addition, domestic wastewater, industrial wastewater, agricultural, forestry, fishery wastewater, and medical wastewater are increasing, causing mass fish deaths in some rivers and lakes, drought in rivers and lakes that cannot meet the demand for wastewater, polluting the environment, affecting public health, and affecting socio-economic development...

Department of Natural Resources and Environment staff took river water samples to test for environmental pollution - Photo: HNK

Faced with the above-mentioned water resources situation, in recent times, the People's Committee of Quang Tri province has implemented many solutions for state management of water resources, ensuring efficiency in the exploitation and use of water resources such as: Master plan for water resources of Quang Tri province to 2010, with orientation to 2020; Plan for management, exploitation, use and protection of groundwater resources in the delta region of Quang Tri province; Decision No. 2019/QD-UBND, dated September 6, 2023 on "Action plan to respond to climate change of Quang Tri province to 2030, with a vision to 2050". At the same time, it has issued documents guiding the implementation and to strengthen state management of water resources.

Implementing the direction of the Provincial People's Committee, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment strengthens the work of urging and guiding organizations and individuals who are required to apply for a license to operate water resources to prepare documents for licensing according to regulations.

Advise the Provincial People's Committee to approve fees for granting the right to exploit water resources in the area; determine the sanitary protection zone of the domestic water supply area. Monitor the exploitation and use of water resources in the province. Organize training for facilities exploiting and using water resources.

Issue many documents requesting units operating in exploiting and using water resources in the province (subject to automatic and online monitoring) to urgently complete the installation, management and operation of equipment to monitor water exploitation activities according to regulations. Strengthen the propaganda, dissemination and education of laws on water resources.

Every year, develop plans, organize inspections and examinations of organizations and individuals operating in water resources. From 2016-2023, the Department inspected and examined the compliance with the law on water resources for 106 production and business establishments (combining the fields of land, environment, minerals and water resources). Thereby, detecting violations and taking measures to correct shortcomings according to regulations.

Protecting and exploiting Ta Puong waterfall, Huong Viet commune, Huong Hoa district associated with tourism development and environmental preservation - Photo: KS

The People's Committees of districts, towns and cities have proactively organized training courses to disseminate and popularize the provisions of the Law on Water Resources, Decrees, guiding Circulars and legal documents related to the field of water resources to officials, people and businesses in the areas under their management.

Localities are interested in applying scientific and technical advances in water resource management and exploitation, such as using advanced and modern equipment for management and operation; investing in advanced irrigation technology for highland areas; and applying water-saving irrigation technology.

Implement flood prevention solutions for urban areas; invest in the construction of traffic works for rescue and relief to support evacuation plans when natural disasters occur; implement dredging projects at Cua Viet and Cua Tung ports...

Strengthen afforestation and protect upstream forests. Actively improve urban infrastructure systems, ensure green growth and respond to the negative impacts of climate change, creating a sustainable living environment for urban residents.

Strengthen reservoirs. Build drought prevention works, saltwater prevention systems, field pumping stations, organize early water intake to store in drainage canals, lakes, ponds, and lagoons. Strictly manage water resource exploitation and use activities; strengthen protection of water quality to ensure stable water supply...

With the participation of all levels, sectors, units, localities and the active participation of the people, it is hoped that the above solutions for water resource management and protection will contribute to promoting and exploiting the potentials and advantages to rapidly develop the province's socio-economic development; ensuring sustainability in resource exploitation, environmental protection and social stability, meeting the requirements of proactively responding to natural disasters, climate change and other factors.

Ko Kan Suong

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/quan-ly-va-su-dung-nguon-nuoc-hop-ly-de-thich-ung-voi-bien-doi-khi-hau-189441.htm