Buon Tua Srah Hydropower Plant regulates water to fight drought in downstream areas

Do not let the downstream lack water

Buon Tua Srah Hydropower Reservoir is the largest reservoir located in the upper reaches of the Krong No River. The reservoir has a great influence in regulating water resources, ensuring irrigation for crops during the dry season in the two provinces of Dak Lak and Dak Nong.

Buon Tua Srah Hydropower Reservoir actively regulates and provides enough water for daily life and agricultural production for people.

Therefore, agricultural production activities and domestic water needs in localities along the Krong No River depend greatly on the regulation of this reservoir.

According to Mr. Nguyen Duc, Deputy Director of Buon Kuop Hydropower Company (investor of Buon Tua Srah Hydropower Plant), from the beginning of 2025, Buon Tua Srah Hydropower Plant reservoir has stored water to the design elevation.

With the development of the hydrometeorological situation in the first 3 months of the year, the water flow to Buon Tua Srah Hydropower Reservoir is higher than the average of many years and higher than the whole year 2024. That is one of the favorable factors for the reservoir to operate and supply water to the downstream.

Workers of Buon Tua Srah Hydropower Plant monitor and operate the plant's activities.

Currently, the water level at the reservoir is maintained at an elevation of about 480.7m, equivalent to about 300 million m3. Thus, compared to the water level in 2024, the current water level of the reservoir is 4m higher, with about 140 million m3.

“Recently, Buôn Tua Srah Hydropower Reservoir has organized a working session with the People's Committee of Krong No district on the issue of local water supply needs. Thereby, we have regulated water appropriately to meet the needs of the downstream”, informed Mr. Nguyen Duc, Deputy Director of Buôn Kuốp Hydropower Company.

Currently, Buon Tua Srah Hydropower Plant always follows the water use plan of Krong No district and the inter-reservoir operation process on the Serepok River basin issued by the Prime Minister .

Buon Tua Srah Hydropower Plant maintains electricity production while proactively ensuring irrigation water supply for downstream areas.

Buon Tua Srah Hydropower Plant has committed to ensuring compliance with the requirements of inter-reservoir operation procedures. The plant affirms that this dry season, the reservoir will ensure water supply for agricultural production and domestic water for people.

Proactively respond to drought

According to the People's Committee of Krong No district, every winter-spring crop, the district plants about 4,500 - 5,000 hectares of crops. For the area that needs irrigation water, the whole district has over 20,000 hectares of various crops.

Mr. Dang Van Minh in Nam Ninh village, Quang Phu commune, Krong No district (Dak Nong) said that the winter-spring crop in the locality went smoothly thanks to abundant water resources.

Since the beginning of April 2025, the water source at 15 irrigation works in Krong No district has dropped 3 - 8m below the spillway threshold. As for large streams, the flow rate has decreased; small streams and creeks have almost run out of water.

Of the total 6 dams, 4 dams have run out of water. In the downstream area of ​​Buon Tua Srah and Chu Pong Krong Hydropower Plants in Krong No District, there are about 6,000 hectares of crops in the water regulation plan of these 2 hydropower plants.

Currently, the water level of the Krong No River in general and the downstream section of the Buon Tua Srah and Chu Pong Krong Hydropower Plants in particular has decreased (mainly due to sand exploitation in the riverbed, causing the water level to decrease).

Krong No River is exposed at the foot of Chu Pong Krong Hydropower Plant

Although the water flow discharged downstream is still guaranteed according to the inter-reservoir operating process, due to low river water levels, pumping stations to take water for irrigation and local daily life are facing difficulties.

According to Mr. Doan Gia Loc, Head of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Krong No district, the district and Buon Kuop Hydropower Company together with the communes will strengthen coordination to implement water regulation plans for the locality.

Currently, along the Krong No River, there are 15 pumping stations built by the district, all of which are fully supplied with water by Buon Kuop Hydropower Company at each time and in each region.

Water from the pumping station helps people in Quang Phu commune, Krong No district ensure crop care.

“In order for the pumping stations to maintain operations and promote efficiency, the district continues to work with the Company on a plan to release water from the Buôn Tua Srah Hydropower Reservoir to serve domestic water supply and agricultural cultivation during the remaining dry season of 2025,” Mr. Doan Gia Loc added.

Source: https://baodaknong.vn/thuy-dien-buon-tua-srah-dieu-nuoc-chong-han-vung-ha-du-250172.html