VietNamNet Bridge – The central city of Da Nang needed to assess the quality of its water resources and reserves to build a strategy to protect the resources in the context of climate change, experts said at a workshop on July 26.

The Han River is a major source of water in the central city of Da Nang. Experts have urged the city to use water economically and effectively while raising public awareness of the role and importance of water resources to respond to the impacts of climate changes.

This is one of many long-term measures necessary to respond to severe droughts and increasing saltwater intrusion together with the impacts of other natural disasters that are threatening the city's water resources.

Da Nang should also incorporate water supplies into its socio-economic development plan and monitor both surface and underground water resources.

Experts suggested seeking international co-operation and support from NGOs to plant forests and develop water resources in upstream areas to help mitigate the impacts of climate changes.

A plan to use water economically and effectively and raising public awareness of the role and importance of water resources were also essential, they said.

The workshop also briefed participants of the risks and challenges caused by climate change for a project on the comprehensive assessment of Da Nang's water resources.

Covering an area of nearly 1.3 million square kilometres in total, Da Nang has underground water reserves of more than 231,000cu.m per day, but many areas of the city have started to show signs of depletion and salinity.

It boasts diversified surface water resources with a total flow of around 12.5 billion cu.m each year.

Water demand for daily use by local residents is projected to reach 210 million cu.m per year by 2020, and the figure for agricultural and industrial production is over 117 million cu.m.

On the occasion, a project funded by the Rockefeller Foundation was launched to help Da Nang assess the quality of its surface water resources and reserves.

Source: VNS