On the afternoon of October 18, 2021, in Hanoi, the Nhan Dan Representative Newspaper organized a roundtable discussion titled “Water Resources and the Management, Exploitation, and Use of Clean Water,” attended by National Assembly deputies, experts, scientists, and policymakers to discuss the challenges Vietnam is facing due to the depletion of water resources, and to propose solutions for the sustainable and effective management, exploitation, and rational use of water resources, as well as to improve compliance with laws on water resource protection and the prevention of water pollution, degradation, and depletion.

Guests participating in the roundtable included Mr. Nguyen Lam Thanh, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly’s Ethnic Council; Mr. Nguyen Quang Huan, National Assembly Deputy, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Water Supply and Environment Association, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Halcom Vietnam Joint Stock Company; Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Anh, Standing Member of the National Assembly’s Committee on Science, Technology and Environment; Mr. Nguyen Minh Khuyen, Deputy Director General of the Department of Water Resources Management under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment; Dr. Nguyen Linh Ngoc, Chairman of the Vietnam Water Supply and Environment Association and former Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment; and Dr. Nghiêm Vũ Khải, National Assembly Deputy of the 11th, 12th and 14th terms and former Vice Chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee on Science, Technology and Environment.

Overview of the roundtable discussion “Water Resources and the Management, Exploitation, and Use of Clean Water”

Water Resource Depletion – A Risk That Cannot Be Ignored

The depletion of both surface water and groundwater resources in many regions is becoming increasingly serious. In addition to objective factors and human impacts, water resources are being exploited for various economic purposes, used wastefully, and polluted, while the control of wastewater discharged into the environment remains inadequate.

According to a World Bank report, more than 70% of the water in rivers nationwide is unsuitable for drinking or bathing. Severe shortages of clean water are occurring not only in urban areas such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, but also across rural areas in the Central Highlands, coastal regions, and even riverine areas such as the Mekong Delta, due to drought and saltwater intrusion. The World Bank forecasts that if this pollution problem is not addressed, Vietnam will face not only a shortage of clean water for use over the next 10 years, but will also have to purchase water at high prices and could lose up to 4% of its GDP by 2035.

Deputy Director General of the Department of Water Resources Management under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Nguyen Minh Khuyen speaking at the roundtable discussion 

Mr. Nguyen Minh Khuyen, Deputy Director General of the Department of Water Resources Management under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, said: “According to assessments by the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, Vietnam’s water resource management remains fragmented, resulting in low management and governance efficiency. Water management along rivers is currently divided among different sectors, as various agencies have the authority to use and exploit these resources. Consequently, when problems arise, it is difficult to determine which agency bears primary responsibility. Under Resolution No. 99/NQ-CP, the Government has also assigned the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to develop a unified law on water resource management and the ministries that use large quantities of water, rather than simply managing water resources as is currently the case.” 

National Assembly Deputy and Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Water Supply and Environment Association Nguyen Quang Huan speaking at the roundtable discussion

XVth National Assembly Deputy and Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Water Supply and Environment Association Nguyen Quang Huan shared at the roundtable discussion: “According to the definition of the World Bank, the United Nations, and other international organizations, water security includes: First, ensuring sufficient water reserves from the headwaters. Second, ensuring that water is used efficiently and equitably by all groups. Third, preventing pollution. If we do all three of these things well, water security will basically be ensured.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment notes that the value added per cubic meter of water in Vietnam is currently very low. Ministry data indicates a figure of just $0.37 per cubic meter—only one-quarter of that seen in countries like China and Japan. Globally, the figure stands at $2.37 per cubic meter, meaning Vietnam’s value added is merely one-eighth of the global average. Water is utilized not only for domestic needs but also for economic activities. Currently, 83–85% of water is consumed by the agricultural sector; low value added in this area diminishes the overall efficiency of water resource utilization. In contrast, domestic consumption accounts for only about 3% and industry for approximately 5%, with the remainder allocated to aquaculture and non-agricultural sectors. Furthermore, we lack a mechanism for the sustainable exploitation of clean water sources. Without change, despite our abundance of rivers, we will still face water shortages.

Investigating and Taking Inventory of Water Resources to Increase the Value and Efficiency of Clean Water Use

On March 24, 2021, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 432/QD-TTg approving the Master Plan for Basic Water Resource Investigation through 2030, with a vision to 2050. Subsequently, on August 4, 2021, Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh signed Decision No. 1383/QD-TTg approving the Scheme for the National Inventory of Water Resources for the period through 2025. The results of the basic national water resource investigation and the inventory of water exploitation and use, as well as wastewater discharge into water sources, will provide a basis for assessing the quantity and distribution of existing water resources, how they are being exploited, and what shortcomings exist; only then can management authorities formulate appropriate and stable plans for water exploitation and use and develop solutions to protect clean water resources sustainably and over the long term.

Mr. Nguyen Minh Khuyen, Deputy Director General of the Department of Water Resources Management under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, said that conducting a water resource inventory is not an easy task, and it took more than 17 years for this scheme to be approved by the Government. The scheme requires considerable resources. Under the Government’s Decision No. 1383 approving the scheme, by 2025, Vietnam will have a set of water resource indicators, which will be the first such set of indicators to be published. Water resources are considered public assets; under Article 53 of the Constitution, these resources need to be managed in accordance with the Law on Management and Use of Public Assets. The inventory scheme requires coordination among ministries, sectors, and localities, particularly ministries that use large amounts of water resources, such as the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Construction, and the Ministry of Transport, in order to obtain a comprehensive picture of the country’s water resources.

Vice Chairman of the National Assembly’s Ethnic Council Nguyen Lam Thanh

Regarding investment in basic water resource investigation activities, Mr. Nguyen Lam Thanh, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly’s Ethnic Council, emphasized the need for programs to assess and investigate water resources, with particular attention to drought-prone areas such as Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan; areas with distinctive terrain such as Ha Giang and several highland and mountainous localities; and the Central Highlands, which is currently facing extremely serious water resource issues, particularly groundwater, due to human impacts on the natural environment. These areas should be prioritized for investigation, especially those closely linked to people’s livelihoods, where water demand extends beyond domestic use. At the same time, there should be an assessment of the water quality monitoring and measurement system.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Anh, Standing Member of the National Assembly’s Committee on Science, Technology and Environment, said that there should be long-term solutions for developing water resources that are compatible with natural conditions, adapted to climate change, or that effectively exploit water resources from outside the national territory, ensuring clean water supplies for domestic use and prioritizing hygienic water supplies for areas prone to natural disasters, disadvantaged areas, and areas with polluted water sources. In addition, it is necessary to continue improving and effectively implementing legal documents on water resources, particularly the 2012 Law on Water Resources; promote the socialization of the water sector; develop infrastructure for sustainable and integrated water exploitation and use; invest in the construction of water storage facilities; and attract social resources and mobilize community participation and oversight in protecting water resources, as well as in the investment, construction, operation, and monitoring of water quality facilities.

Standing Member of the National Assembly’s Committee on Science, Technology and Environment Nguyen Thi Kim Anh 

Mr. Nguyen Quang Huan, National Assembly Deputy, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Water Supply and Environment Association, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Halcom Vietnam Joint Stock Company, said: “We are also lacking mechanisms for accessing a market-oriented economy. Take, for example, the construction of a large number of reservoirs and dams, more than 1,000 in total. Initially, the State invested substantial amounts of public funding in their construction, but due to inadequate operation and management, and the lack of regular maintenance and repairs, many have seriously deteriorated. There are many reasons for this, one of which is a lack of funding, and this funding shortage is because we are not operating according to market economy principles. If reservoirs and dams are only maintained once every 10 years and rely solely on state funding, this would be a huge burden. I think we need to study policies to address this issue. Regarding water pollution, we currently also lack a mechanism for an organization to operate and protect water resources.”

Improving Policies and Legislation on Protecting Clean Water Quality in the New Situation

The 2012 Law on Water Resources contains provisions on protecting the quality of water sources used for water production for domestic purposes. However, in practice, some regulations and policies remain inconsistent and lack coordination regarding the management and monitoring of clean water quality after the production process; water management and exploitation; protection of water sources; and the distribution and supply of clean water to households. The lack of coordination across the stages, from water extraction to ensuring the treatment of raw water into clean water and its distribution through pipeline systems to individual households, makes inspection and monitoring a frequent challenge. According to the survey results under the National Target Program for Rural Clean Water Supply and Environmental Sanitation, the quality of drinking water in rural areas has not yet been subject to adequate monitoring and testing…

Chairman of the Vietnam Water Supply and Environment Association, Dr. Nguyen Linh Ngoc

Dr. Nguyen Linh Ngoc, Chairman of the Vietnam Water Supply and Environment Association and former Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, said that the 2012 Law on Water Resources was a turning point in water resource management. However, after nearly 10 years of implementation, a number of shortcomings have emerged. The specific management responsibilities of ministries and sectors remain overlapping. Water management by river basin has not yet been truly effective. Mr. Ngoc proposed that, during the process of amending the law, local communities and socio-political organizations in the relevant areas should be involved in protecting water resources more effectively. When people participate in monitoring and take greater responsibility for their communities, management will become more effective and substantive. Regarding water supply, privatization and socialization should be promoted, as the State cannot continue to provide subsidies indefinitely. Socialized enterprises have their own sources of revenue and greater autonomy.

Mr. Nguyen Lam Thanh, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly’s Ethnic Council, said that water supply has improved significantly in recent years, shifting from a shortage of water to having water, and from having water to having clean water, “however, we still lack consistency in the criteria for assessing the level and quality of water used for people’s domestic needs.” In addition to domestic water, how should the demand for water for production be addressed under the new development trend and in the current situation? We lack resources for centralized treatment systems. As requirements for water testing become stricter, water quality testing will eventually become a profession and be commercialized. Another issue concerns technology, which requires research and improvements to equipment. State management must address all these issues, including management mechanisms, equipment, and human resources. Most importantly, management mechanisms must be designed to encourage socialization and the participation of multiple stakeholders.”

At the roundtable discussion, Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Anh, Standing Member of the National Assembly’s Committee on Science, Technology and Environment, shared information about the “Scheme on Ensuring Water Security and Safety of Dams and Water Reservoirs for the 2021–2030 Period, with a Vision to 2045,” which the Government had recently submitted to the National Assembly and its Standing Committee. The scheme focuses on 10 solutions aimed at using water resources efficiently and rationally, such as mobilizing organizational and socialized resources to proactively provide irrigation, drainage, and ensure the safety of dams and water reservoirs; ensuring that hydraulic works serve multiple purposes, preventing and mitigating adverse impacts from natural disasters and climate change, and protecting and developing forests; building a water security monitoring and assessment system; and promoting scientific and technological research and international cooperation. In addition, the Committee on Science, Technology and Environment is reporting to the National Assembly Standing Committee on a proposal for the National Assembly to adopt a separate resolution on water security, thereby encouraging the entire population and social organizations to join in carrying out this task. At the same time, over the next few years, the Committee has proposed that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment urgently continue finalizing the dossier and drafting amendments and supplements to the Law on Water Resources, as well as other laws related to water resources, to align them with current realities and development trends, helping ensure that water resources are managed economically and used efficiently, and that all people are treated equally in access to and use of water, so that everyone has the opportunity to use water.

National Assembly Deputy for the 11th, 12th, and 14th terms, former Vice Chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee on Science, Technology and Environment, Dr. Sc. Nghiem Vu Khai 

Dr. Sc. Nghiem Vu Khai, National Assembly Deputy for the 11th, 12th, and 14th terms and former Vice Chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee on Science, Technology and Environment, emphasized the importance of setting fair and adequate prices to ensure a balance of interests among the State, businesses, and consumers. He also shared: “I find that there are many issues in wastewater and waste treatment, particularly regarding technology. Many inventors have developed waste incinerators, but most of them do not remain operational for several decades. This is because waste contains many toxic substances and is highly corrosive. Therefore, Vietnam needs to consider investing in technology and sharing benefits with foreign inventors so that both sides can achieve mutually beneficial outcomes. Investing in science and technology and making it the core will enable us to achieve fair and affordable prices. Only by ensuring the interests of all parties can we promote socialization.”

Access to safe water is the foundation of public health – and this is critically important for sustainable development. The importance of water to society, human health, economic development, and ecosystems has been well established. Water resources are finite while demand is continually increasing, making it essential to manage, exploit, use, and protect water resources in support of sustainable development. Within the framework of the roundtable discussion, the opinions of policymakers, legislators, experts, and businesses will provide valuable input for authorities at all levels, sectors, and localities to make joint efforts and take action, particularly in raising public awareness and responsibility through concrete actions in daily life, toward the goal of sustainable management and development of water resources.

Delegates at the roundtable discussion

Source of information and photos: Báo Đại Biểu Nhân Dân

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