To share knowledge on issues related to the decline of groundwater resources and increase of subsidence rate in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta to students, graduate students, and young staff. The Institute for Climate Change Research (DRAGON-Mekong Institute) - Can Tho University in collaboration with Arcadis (Netherlands) under the sponsorship of Netherlands Enterprise Agency organised an online seminar called "Governance of land subsidence and groundwater management in the Mekong Delta for students, young generation." (Takes place on December 25, 2021). 

An online seminar on "Governance of land subsidence and groundwater management in the Mekong Delta for students, young people"

Attending the workshop in the presence of scientists in the fields of engineering, water resource management, geology, and other fields related to the management and sustainable development of water resources in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta (VMD) from Can Tho University, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, Research Institute for Circular Economy Development, Tay Do University, Southern Institute of Irrigation Science, Center for Rural Research and Development. The seminar also had the participation of students, graduate students, and young staff from many parts of the Mekong Delta. 

During the opening session, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Van Pham Dang Tri - Director, DRAGON-Mekong Institute briefly ntroduced the seminar. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Van Pham Dang Tri presented the seminar’s theme of the seminar, as well as having a report on "Groundwater extraction and subsidence. The issue of technical management and management of the Vietnamese Mekong Delta" ends up looking at how to manage land subsidence and groundwater in the Mekong Delta for long-term development. 

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Van Pham Dang Tri - Director, DRAGON-Mekong Institute gave the opening speech of the seminar

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Van Pham Dang Tri - Director, DRAGON-Mekong Institute reported on “Groundwater extraction and subsidence. The issue of technical management and management of the Vietnamese Mekong Delta”

Experts from the Mekong Delta shared knowledge on land subsidence governance, groundwater resource management, and the circular economy in relation to sustainable water resource development in the Mekong Delta at the seminar.

Dr. Ha Quang Khai, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resource, Ho Chi Minh University of Technology spoke about "the current situation of groundwater exploitation and obstacles to sustainable development in the Mekong Delta"

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Hong Quan - Circular Economy Development Research Institute reported on: "Circular economy in protection and development of water resources in the Mekong Delta"

In line with the presentations of the speakers, the seminar also received contributions from experts in the fields related to land subsidence and groundwater management

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Anh Tuan - Former Deputy Director of the Institute of Climate Change Research, Can Tho University, exchanging ideas on issues related to the depletion of groundwater resources and subsidence in the VMD

A number of solutions have been suggested, including: 

• Maximizing the efficiency of using and exploiting water resources, a combination of groundwater, rainwater, and surface water should be used in specific scenarios.
• Injecting rainwater into the aquifer to recharge it can oxidize pyrite, contaminating aquifers with heavy metals. As a result, considerable analysis is required before applying this method.
• Small extraction wells are difficult to manage, and inadequate drilling procedures have the potential to carry pollutants from the surface to the aquifer. Furthermore, extraction wells with a capacity of less than 10m3/day are almost unregistered and unlicensed, requiring additional attention and a solution to this problem.
• The cost of agricultural and fishery output does not include the value of water. This resource is being mistreated and over-exploited. The value of these resources must be calculated, and the stakeholders should pay more attention to the approach.
• The circular economy is a promising strategy, but it is now unrelated to water resource management. In the future, it is advised to do more closely associated studies on circular economy and water resources.
• In the Ca Mau peninsula, it is suggested that low-lying areas and water reservoirs should be restored, the production structure should be changed, increasing water storage so that residents can have fresh water throughout the dry season.
• The full dyke system in low-lying areas has a number of negative consequences, including contaminating surface water and forcing residents to rely on groundwater for their needs. In order to develop new, more effective, and long-lasting solutions, it is necessary to consider the benefits and drawbacks of approaches that have been in use for many years.
• Some individuals and entities have been unable to get policies, remedies, or scientific information due to a lack of communication. Prioritise relevant methods for transferring essential information to various audiences, ensuring that this information is useful to the community and the surrounding area. In addition, water users' engagement in scientific research, policy recommendations, and implementation are all taken into account.
• (News and Images: DRAGON-Mekong Institute)