A pond reserving fresh water to prepare the upcoming drought. (Photo: VNA) The most fierce saline intrusion might occur in Mekong Delta region fromFebruary 9 to 15, coinciding with the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday which maylead to a lack of fresh water.
Water sources from February to July in the river basins in the northern regionhave been forecast to reduce 20-50 percent, with the Thao and Lo rivers set tosuffer most seriously, said Hoang Phuc Lam, Vice Director of the NationalCentre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF).
In February, the basin of the Hong (Red) River would be 10-20 percent lowerthan the average levels of previous years.
The lowest water level in Hong River is forecast at 0.2-0.3m in February andMarch.
From June to July, there will be small and medium floods, with a peak at alarmlevel 1.
Similarly, in the central and Central Highlands regions, from the second halfof January to April, the water levels in the rivers had changed slowly andfollow a downward trend.
The water levels of rivers in the provinces of Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Quang Tri,Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan could be 20-50 percent lower than in the same periodlast year.
From May to July, upstream rivers in central and Central Highlands regions arelikely to change slowly and fluctuate according to the actions of reservoirs.
The flow discharge on most rivers in regions will be about 10-50 percent, muchlower than the usual average.
Rivers in Nghe An, Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan will be much lower than average bymore than 50 percent.
“With the trend, the risks of water shortage and drought were likely to occurin provinces of Nghe An, Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan and Central Highlandsprovinces from March to April, and then spread to other central provinces,”said Lam.
In terms of saline intrusion this year, Vu Duc Long, NCHMF’s Vice Director,said the upstream flow towards the Mekong Delta region was decreasing so salineintrusion would increase from the end of this month.
The International Mekong River Commission also stated the total flow inFebruary from the upper Mekong River in Cambodia to the delta region will be5-15 percent less than the average volume, and from March to May, the flow willreach the average volume.
The water level of the Mekong River in the dry season this year will vary withthe tide and be 0.1-0.3m higher than average.
The severest saline intrusion at the mouth of the Mekong River is likely tohappen from mid-February to late March.
For the Vam Co and Cai Lon rivers, saline intrusion is forecast in March andApril and then will gradually decrease.
The range of saline intrusion at the estuaries of the Mekong River will beabout 55-75km.
Saline intrusion in the region depends on the water source from the upperMekong River, high tide and many other changes, according to the NCHMF.
Therefore, the centre recommended localities in the delta region stay updatedon hydro-meteorological forecasts and take proactive measures to preventdroughts and saline intrusion./.
VNA
