HCMC is about to have the longest drought in 60 years

This year's term is expected to be very serious, possibly causing water shortages, saline intrusion, which disrupts the exploitation and supply of clean water in HCM City.

In the drought prevention plan and dealing with the impact of the upcoming El Nino phenomenon, Ho Chi Minh City requires related industries to implement water-saving solutions, rational transformation of plants and animals. To cope with abnormal climate changes such as hot sunshine, drought . leading to a shortage of water, Saigon Water Supply One-member Limited Company (Sawaco) has set up emergency water supply plans such as: tank car, safe through individual wells .

In addition, Sawaco will coordinate with Dau Tieng - Phuoc Hoa Irrigation Exploitation One Member Co., Ltd. and Tri An Hydropower Company to be supported with saline discharge when necessary. In the long term, the company also researched the plan to build a reservoir of raw water for the Saigon River water to cope with the case of it changing in a bad way or when unusual incidents occur .

The Dau Tieng lake water level is nearly 1.5m lower than in 2014, which may cause a shortage of freshwater for daily life, irrigation and salting for Ho Chi Minh City and Tay Ninh province.(Photo: Thanh Tuyet).

Meanwhile, towards Dau Tieng Lake - providing only fresh water for tens of thousands of hectares of rice, crops, clean water, pushing salt to Tay Ninh and Ho Chi Minh City - the management unit said it would have to discharge plans. Alternate water to save water. Specifically, after discharging water for irrigation for Tay Ninh 3 days will be transferred to Ho Chi Minh City for 4 days (or vice versa), instead of having to continuously discharge seven days for localities as before. Thus, the amount of discharge on the channel can be reduced by 20-30%.

Ho Chi Minh City Department of Flood and Storm Control (Ho Chi Minh City Department of Agriculture and Rural Development) also recommends that people regularly monitor forecasts, convert crop models and rational livestock .

According to the Central Hydrometeorological Forecast Center, the El Nino phenomenon continues to affect Vietnam and may reach the intensity of the strong El Nino record in 1997-1998 and last until the end of winter. this spring.

In addition to the intensity, the El Nino in 2015-2016 is said to be the longest in about 60 years. It is likely that the rainy season will come late and finish early, the total rainfall, most flows in the region are inadequate compared to the average of many years. Especially Central, South and Central Highlands. Therefore, the water level in irrigation and hydropower reservoirs is lower than in the same period of 2014 and HCMC is considered as one of the severely affected localities.