The Mekong Delta will face a severe lack of fresh water in the coming years due to fast population growth and increasing saltwater intrusion in the region, experts have warned.

Le Van Tuan, an adviser to the Ministry of Construction, said apart from Phu Quoc and Kien Hai islands of mainland Kien Giang Province, the localities in the southwest of the Hau River including Can Tho, An Giang, Kien Giang, Ca Mau, Hau Giang, Soc Trang and Bac Lieu are poised to lack at least 800,000 cubic meters of fresh water a day from 2020.

From 2030, the region will likely fall short of 1.7 million cubic meters of fresh water a day, according to a study released by Vietnam Water, Sanitation and Environment Joint Stock Company (VIWASE) at a three-day conference on water resources and challenges of the climate change in Can Tho City last week.

Climate change will cause seawater levels to rise and worsen saltwater intrusion in the Mekong Delta. On top of that, the region’s population will keep growing and possibly reach 10.7 million in 2020 and 12.2 million in 2030, up 1.7 million and three million respectively compared to 2012, according to VIWASE.

To ease the fresh water shortage in the future, the Ministry of Construction has worked out a project to provide clean water for households in the region, Tuan said.

The project includes building two plants with each having a daily fresh water processing capacity of 400,000 cubic meters. Water of the Hau River will be processed at these facilities for supply to local residents via consistent water supply systems.

“If the project is implemented successfully, it will be an effective solution to ensure a long-term supply of fresh water to households in the Mekong Delta, especially those in the southwest of the Hau River,” Tuan of the ministry said.

However, some experts at the conference called for the ministry to mull other solutions as river water in the region will be polluted given what is happening there.

Le Anh Tuan, vice rector of the Research Institute for Climate Change of Can Tho University, said climate change has impacted the delta earlier and faster than scientists’ predictions.

Experts also voiced concerns over the quantity and quality of water resources in the region when pollution is on the rise. Therefore, Tuan warned that the project will be put at risk if the ministry cannot find other solutions to supply fresh water for the region.

Tuan noted that the overexploitation of underground water resources will cause Ca Mau Peninsula to subside and therefore relevant agencies should consider using rainwater as an additional alternative.

Rik Dierx, director of a climate change and water supply project in the Mekong Delta and HCMC, suggested taking the most of different water resources, including rainwater and underground water as a sustainable solution for the region to counter the impact of climate change.