Vietnam’s Water Usage Wasteful: Environment Ministry’s Report
Vietnam is generating little value by using its water resources as the country’s water use efficiency is currently $2.37 per cubic meter, versus the global average of $19.42 per cubic meter, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment (MoNRE)’s report to National Assembly delegates.
Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment Dang Quoc Khanh noted that Vietnam is not using water efficiently, especially when it comes to agriculture and in urban areas.
The water usage wastefulness is attributed to the lack of a system to create proper planning on river water resource regulation and distribution as well as conflicts of interests between different sectors, including hydropower, agriculture, production, and civilian use.
Minister Khanh said that investment in the water sector is lacking and the distribution of resources is unbalanced. Meanwhile, several rivers and reservoirs are showing signs of water flow declines.
The environment ministry has built a system to monitor water usage while cooperating with the Ministry of Science and Technology to study and map out national projects to ensure water security and dam safety and implementing climate change responses for the sustainable development of the Mekong Delta.
Besides, the MoNRE has proposed certain changes regarding the operation of reservoirs to ensure water regulation and distribution and built data networks on the operation of 134 dams and reservoirs.