Assessing existing surface water supply sources in the Vietnamese Mekong delta: case study of Can Tho, Soc Trang, and Hau Giang provinces

Abstract

In the recent past, the quality of surface water for domestic use in the Vietnamese Mekong delta (VMD) has been seriously affected by severe water pollution and intense saltwater intrusion. This study aims to assess existing surface water sources in the provinces of Can Tho, Hau Giang, and Soc Trang. By assessing the existing salinity status to point out areas of low salinity frequency hazards, this work identifies suitable areas through water quality assessments. The results indicated that the Hau river and its tributaries from Ke Sach (in Soc Trang) toward inland has a lower risk of salinity. This indicated that water sources in Ke Sach could be a possible raw water source for water supply treatment plants in Soc Trang. Specifically, water sources including the Hau river’s mainstream, Cai Khe canal, Khai Luong canal, and Thom Rom canal in Can Tho city, the Hau river’s mainstream, the Mai Dam river in the Hau Giang province, and the Cai Con river, the Hau river’s mainstream in Ke Sach, and the Cai Vop and Cai Tram canals in the Soc Trang province, could be exploited for water supply. However, a treatment for pollutants such as BOD5, COD, TSS, and total coliform in these water sources musts be taken into consideration.

Keywords

• saltwater intrusion
• surface water quality assessment
• surface water supply