When water security is not given adequate attention, it will affect many aspects of society and the economy. We cannot achieve sustainable development without ensuring water security. Therefore, we need to take corrective action and stop wasting water as we are doing today. Nguyễn Quang Huân – Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Association for Clean Water and Environment and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Halcom Vietnam JSC, who had just been elected as a member of the 15th National Assembly, emphasized this point when discussing water security. 

– How do you assess the current situation of water resource management in Vietnam?

– At present, water-related issues have become increasingly urgent. Vietnam is facing a high risk of water pollution. According to a World Bank report, in another 20–30 years, Vietnam’s younger generations may not have sufficient clean water for use. This is extremely dangerous.

We have always believed that Vietnam has abundant water resources, such as the Mekong River, whose total flow can reach 500 billion cubic meters, equivalent to the combined water resources of the Philippines and Australia. However, we often forget that around 70% of Vietnam’s water resources originate outside the country, meaning that we do not have full control over these resources.

Moreover, as Vietnam has developed rapidly in recent years, a number of consequences have emerged, including environmental problems and wastewater discharged from industrial parks. Domestic wastewater is also not being properly collected or adequately treated. More than 3 billion cubic meters of wastewater are discharged into rivers and seas every year, but only around 10–12% is properly treated. This creates an increasingly serious risk of water pollution, which in turn leads to soil, river and lake pollution. Another issue is that around 82% of our water is used for agriculture, 11% for aquaculture and seafood production, while only about 3% is used for domestic purposes. However, agricultural water management remains inadequate. Irrigation systems and reservoirs are not properly maintained, making it difficult to control flooding during the rainy season or cope with drought during the dry season.

According to a World Bank report, if we continue to waste water and fail to protect water resources, by 2030 or 2035 Vietnam could lose around 6% of its annual GDP dealing with water pollution and water shortages that affect economic development, including agriculture, aquaculture and industry.

Our country is blessed with abundant natural resources, but people are currently using water rather indiscriminately and wastefully. In recent years, we have witnessed floods and droughts occurring with increasing frequency. As natural disasters become more frequent, we are beginning to recognize the consequences of inefficient water use.

When water security is not given adequate attention, it affects many areas. We cannot achieve sustainable development if water security is not ensured. In my view, now is the time to take corrective action and stop wasting water as we currently do. If we continue using water according to our current habits, water security will not be guaranteed. I believe the entire political system and the public need to take this issue seriously. We must address it now; otherwise, it will be too late.

– From your perspective as a water resource expert, what shortcomings do you see in State management in this area?

– In the water supply sector alone, the Ministry of Construction manages urban water, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development manages rural water, while the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment manages water resources. I believe that policies among ministries and sectors are sometimes inconsistent, making management more difficult.

Regarding water pollution, I believe we must address the wastewater problem. However, we currently collect a wastewater treatment fee equivalent to only 10% of the selling price of one cubic meter of clean water. In many countries, if one unit of expenditure is required for water supply, at least two units are needed for wastewater treatment. Consumers would therefore pay three units for one cubic meter of clean water. In Vietnam, however, we collect only 10% of the water price. Of this amount, local authorities take around 70% into the budget, leaving only 30% for provinces and water treatment companies to operate the system. This amount is far too small even to operate the drainage system, let alone a wastewater treatment system.

There are also management issues. In some cases, although policies already exist, their implementation differs among localities. Each locality applies its own approach. We currently have a mechanism for collecting water-use fees to protect water resources, but the amount collected is insignificant, and it is unclear how much of this revenue is actually used by local authorities to protect the water basins and water sources concerned.

There are still many loopholes in our water resource management policies. Therefore, I believe the National Assembly needs to work together with relevant Government agencies to develop the most appropriate solutions. We cannot rush to increase water prices because this would affect society. But without a clear roadmap, sustainable development will be difficult, and the water sector itself may struggle to remain viable in the future.

– Ensuring water security requires many coordinated policies and short- and long-term solutions. What solutions do you think are needed to ensure water security and make this sector a top priority in Vietnam?

– To ensure water security, we need to balance opportunities and challenges to achieve the best possible outcomes in three interconnected areas: society, the economy and the environment. First, water resources must be managed effectively. Second, we must minimize risks such as pollution, water shortages and unstable water supplies. Third, there must be effective enforcement mechanisms to ensure efficiency and fairness for all users. If we do these things well, we can safeguard water security.

At the same time, water security requires attention to three key outcomes: stable water supplies, pollution prevention, and fair and efficient water use.

We need a water-use fee system under which everyone who uses water pays a fee, including irrigation, agriculture and domestic users. The appropriate fee level should be determined by the relevant authorities. Once such fees are collected, there will be a financial source for protecting water resources.

Regarding pollution, I believe we must focus on dealing with sources of pollution, particularly solid waste and wastewater. This also requires funding, which should come from those generating pollution, such as craft villages, businesses, commercial establishments, restaurants and hotels.

Vietnam has now graduated from the low-income group and no longer has access to concessional ODA financing as before. The State budget cannot meet the enormous demand for financing drainage and wastewater systems in every locality. Therefore, we need appropriate policies to attract greater private-sector participation. At the same time, provinces and cities must proactively work with businesses to find solutions rather than continuing to rely on the central Government as in the past.

Regarding efficient water use, we need to research ways to use the water currently available to people more efficiently, ensuring that everyone has access to clean water. Drainage and wastewater treatment systems must also be designed and operated sustainably. We must avoid the current situation in which all kinds of waste are discharged into rivers, including wastewater, solid waste, chemical fertilizers and pesticides. In Hanoi, for example, the Tô Lịch, Nhuệ and Đáy rivers are severely polluted because they receive enormous amounts of wastewater every day without proper treatment. 

In particular, we need to study the geographical and climatic characteristics of each region. Vietnam has a distinctive situation: too much water during the rainy season, too little during the dry season, and heavily polluted water in many places. If all three problems become excessive, we cannot guarantee water security. When we have an excess of water, we need solutions to improve flood drainage. Every year, floods cause economic losses equivalent to around 1–1.5% of GDP. If Vietnam has to deal with flood damage every year, why not invest an amount comparable to those losses in flood-control measures? People would be safer, crops would be protected, and that alone would be a significant achievement. Moreover, if investment is properly planned, we could potentially use an amount equivalent to the damage caused by one or two years of flooding to provide safety for people and generate economic benefits throughout a project’s 20–30-year lifespan. Scientists, economists and social experts need to carefully assess this issue. The benefits would certainly be substantial.

– Thank you very much, Mr. Huân.

Source: Dai bieu Nhan dan Newspaper