Tag: salt water intrusion

A Story from a family in Hoa Dien Commune, Kien Luong District, Kien Giang Province, Vietnam

Vietnam’s River System

Vietnam is a country with a dense river system and relatively abundant surface water resources. However, due to its geographical position in the downstream part of major rivers that flow through multiple countries, Vietnam has a disadvantage as its surface water largely depends on exogenous sources. Annually, transboundary rivers and streams bring about 520 billion cubic meters of water into Vietnam, accounting for approximately 63% of the country’s total surface water. Vietnam’s endogenous water resources reach only 4,200 cubic meters per person per year, which is low compared to the Southeast Asian average of 4,900 cubic meters per person per year. When upstream countries build dams, it immediately affects the livelihoods of millions of Vietnamese people.¹

The Current State of Freshwater Resources in Vietnam

Water is a precious natural resource and an essential source of life for humans and many other living creatures on Earth. However, ensuring clean water for daily use in Vietnam, especially in rural areas, is increasingly alarming as water sources are gradually depleting. According to statistics from the International Water Resources Association (IWRA), Vietnam is currently classified as a “water-scarce” country. The average domestic water resource of Vietnam is only 3,840 cubic meters per person per year, 400 cubic meters per person per year lower than the global average. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment also forecasts that by 2025, the per capita water volume in Vietnam will be halved. This is considered paradoxical for a country with a dense network of rivers and lakes.

Women, making up 51% of the population, actively participate in protecting water resources. As women often take on household chores such as washing, cooking, bathing children, and watering plants, they are the main users of water in the family. They will be the most affected when water is scarce.

The Story of Mrs. Hai

Mrs. Nguyen Thi Hai, 34 years old, mainly works in farming, but she is also a teacher at the district vocational school. She has two children, and her family includes two generations: her and her husband, and their two children. Her family lives in Hoa Dien commune, Kien Luong district, Kien Giang province.

Kien Luong district is located in the Northwest of Kien Giang province, with its southern part adjacent to the Gulf of Thailand. Kien Giang is a coastal province in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam. It is the largest province in the southwestern region and the second largest in the southern region. Like other provinces in the Mekong Delta, many households in coastal and island areas of Kien Giang face the problem of lacking clean water for daily use or having poor-quality water due to acid sulfate and saline contamination. In response to saltwater intrusion, the People’s Committee of Kien Giang province has declared an emergency situation regarding natural disasters due to saltwater intrusion, promptly responding to the Kien Luong district area and issuing an order for the urgent construction of a dam on the Rach Gia-Ha Tien canal. It is estimated that about 30,000 households in Kien Giang may face water shortages during the dry season (from December to early April). To cope with this, households in high-risk areas for salt and drought intrusion often prepare cement tanks, stone jars, and plastic containers to store fresh water, even though many places already have tap water or hand-pumped water, as these sources often become unusable due to heavy contamination.²

Although Mrs. Hai’s family is fortunate not to be in a severely water-scarce area, they are very conscious of protecting and saving fresh water in their daily lives. Following the CommuneWomen’s Union’s guidance, Mrs. Hai has proactively bought many large ceramic jars to collect rainwater, a valuable fresh water source for her family and the people of the Southern region. The average rainfall in the Mekong Delta, where Mrs. Hai’s family lives, is between 1,300 and 2,000 mm per year, with heavy rains occurring during the rainy season (from May to November).

Using jars to collect rainwater for daily use and watering plants is a women’s initiative in the Mekong Delta, rooted in the long-standing culture of coastal residents. These jars, essential for coastal families to store water and salt fish for making fish sauce, were traditionally made from fired clay, called ceramic. Later, jars made from other materials such as cement or plastic became available. Since 2016, the Vietnam Women’s Union has supported the Government’s New Rural Development Program (according to Decision 1600/QD-TTg issued on August 16, 2016) through a campaign encouraging women nationwide to build families with “5 Nos, 3 Cleans.” One of the “3 Cleans” criteria (clean house, clean kitchen, clean alley) under this campaign includes a specific criterion for sanitary water and clean water usage, and hygienic water storage tanks.

Women’s UniTypically, families in the Mekong Delta, especially those of Women’s Union members, have at least 5-7 jars. Jars are placed in the kitchen for cooking water, outside for bathing and watering plants, and covered to prevent mosquitoes and larvae. These water jars have proven effective in storing clean water for families, becoming even more valuable amidst the shortage of clean water and saltwater intrusion during the dry season in the Mekong Delta. Local Women’s Union branches have promoted and expanded the use of rainwater jars among women. The Vietnam Women’s Academy has evaluated this activity and recommended that localities continue to replicate this effective model.on has the most important and active role at grassroot level

Jars placed outside will be uncovered to collect rainwater when it rains and covered tightly when not in use to prevent mosquito and larvae breeding. Jars inside the house will have a gutter leading rainwater into the jar when it rains and be covered when not collecting water to ensure hygiene.

Mrs. Hai uses rainwater for watering plants and daily activities, helping her family utilize natural fresh water and save the supplied fresh water.With seven rainwater jars, Mrs. Hai’s family has enough water for daily use, with a capacity to last for several weeks.

Mrs. Hai and many other women in Kien Luong are doing an excellent job of saving water, contributing to water security as resources become increasingly scarce.

1. Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Vietnam. 2022. National Environmental Status Report 2021. Accessed in May 2024. ↩︎
2. Nhan Dan news. 2024. Kien Giang province coping with drought and saltwater intrusion. Accessed in May 2024. ↩︎

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