CAPTION. Tân Uyên City in Bình Dương Province, situated along the Đồng Nai River. The province is taking measures to cope with saltwater intrusion up the Sài Gòn and Đồng Nai rivers. VNA/VNS Photo

BÌNH DƯƠNG - Bình Dương Province is taking measures to cope with saltwater intrusion up the Sài Gòn and Đồng Nai rivers, reduced water flows from Trị An and Dầu Tiếng lakes into these rivers and prolonged hot weather.

Water levels at the sources of the two rivers are low due to prolonged heat caused by the El Nino phenomenon. Despite Bình Dương being located a long distance upriver from the sea, saltwater intrusion is increasing.

The reduced water flows from Trị An and Dầu Tiếng lakes are exacerbating the problem.

The saltwater intrusion is having a severe impact on daily lives and livelihoods in the community. 

So far the farthest saltwater has intruded up the Sài Gòn River is 76km from the coast, while it is 78km in the Đồng Nai.

Nguyễn Khánh Trường, head of the province Irrigation Sub-department, said his agency has coordinated with authorities managing the Dầu Tiếng - Phước Hòa irrigation system to adjust water releases to keep the saltwater at bay.

It has stepped up oversight of and data collection on the salinity levels in the rivers and forecast of saltwater intrusion in the downstream areas to respond proactively, he said.

It has inspected and maintained irrigation works to ensure they work well, providing enough water for daily use and agricultural production, he added.

The Bình Dương Water - Environment Corporation Joint Stock Company regularly checks water quality and laid pipes between various water pumping stations to ensure adequate supply to the community.

Dương Hoàng Sơn, deputy director of the company, said it regularly collects water samples and conducts quality checks to ensure safety.

Through proactive prevention and responses to the saltwater intrusion, the province is seeking to limit its impacts on water treatment plants along the two rivers. - VNS