The Nguyễn Tấn Thành Sluice Gate in Tiền Giang Province. — VNA/VNS Photo Nguyễn Minh Trí

HCM CITY —After a prolonged period of severe saltwater intrusion, the salinity levels in the main tributaries of the Mekong River have finally decreased.

The decrease in salinity means that freshwater is becoming more abundant in the river branches, allowing people to store it for daily use and production.

Nguyễn Minh Anh, a 68-year-old in Chợ Lách District, Bến Tre Province, said he had managed to fill his pond with fresh water in the past two days, enough for usage for about a week.

He said he needed such a large amount of fresh water to irrigate his seedling farm. Since the beginning of the 2024 dry season, he built the tarpaulin-covered pond to store water, but there were times the pond ran out of water due to increased river salinity.

"I pump river water into the pond whenever river salinity decreases," Anh said. "This year's dry season has been less challenging, as I don’t have to purchase fresh water like in previous years."

According to the Bến Tre Meteorological and Hydrological Station, the salinity levels in the river branches have decreased in recent days but are expected to rise again until May 8, followed by only minor fluctuations.

The station advises people living approximately 60 kilometres from the river mouth to closely monitor salinity levels when operating sluice gates and pumping fresh water from the river branches.

In Tiền Giang, the Nguyễn Tấn Thành Sluice Gate has been opened while the Xuân Hòa Sluice Gate is expected to follow suit on May 20, supplying fresh water for the Gò Công Area. VNS