Challenges that the Mekong Delta is facing in water source management were highlighted at a seminar held by the Southern Institute of Sustainable Development (SISD) and the Centre for Research Development (ZEF) under Germany’s University of Bonn, in Ho Chi Minh City on June 13.

According to the SISD, water sources in many regional cities and provinces are heavily polluted due to urbanisation and the rapid development of industry.

Both Vietnamese and German scientists said that water for irrigation and aquaculture farming is predicted to shrink. In Can Tho city for example, the underground water level is estimated to fall by 0.5 metres, even 0.7 metres in some places, each year.

There is also an increasing number of hydroelectric plants in the region leading to negative impacts on the environment, they added.

Prof. Dr. Bui The Cuong from the SISD said that all activities to manage land and water sources have great influences on the population and land areas, as well as the use and quality of the land and water sources. Therefore, studies of socio-economic impacts on water source management should always take into account the diversity of local people’s livelihoods, Cuong said.

Source: VNA