Dong Thap Proactively Formulates Scenarios to Combat Drought and Saltwater Intrusion Ahead of 2026–2027 Dry Season
(DTO) On October 22, Vice Chairman of the Dong Thap Provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Phuoc Thien chaired a strategy session on measures to mitigate drought, water shortages, and saltwater intrusion during the 2026–2027 dry season, alongside plans to guarantee public water supplies across the province.
According to a draft response plan, the province is developing a scenario modeled after the severe 2019–2020 dry season, amid forecasts that El Niño could trigger severe water deficits and exacerbate saltwater intrusion.
Under an adverse scenario marked by a sharp decline in upstream flows, forecasts indicate that in February 2027, the 1 g/L salinity boundary along the Tien River could extend approximately 75 kilometers inland. This encroachment threatens to directly impact the eastern region of the province, putting nearly 482,000 residents and over 161,000 hectares of agricultural land at risk.
To wrest the initiative, the province will mandate departments, agencies, and local authorities to mobilize countermeasures before December 15, 2026. Key priorities include strictly managing seasonal crop schedules to ensure the winter–spring rice harvest is fully wrapped up in February 2027, accelerating the dredging of canals and ditches, reinforcing embankments, and impounding water for agricultural production.
To safeguard domestic water security, relevant agencies will inspect and dredge raw-water reservoirs, conduct trial operations of backup groundwater wells, and prepare contingency allocation plans to maintain an uninterrupted supply of clean water. Public water tanks and free water taps will also be deployed to assist residents in the event of shortages.
If conditions deteriorate further, the province will consider constructing temporary salinity-control dams on the Ba Rai and Phu An rivers in neighboring Cai Be district, as well as around the Hiep Đức islet area.
Speaking at the meeting, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Phuoc Thien ordered departments, agencies, and local authorities to fully integrate these response tasks into actionable local plans, ensuring coordinated, detailed, and reality-based operations.
The Vice Chairman emphasized that specialized agencies must heighten responsibility, proactively compiling data to assess water demand and supply capacity in each area, while formulating concrete guidance for local execution. Preparations must begin early to prevent a passive or fumbling response, guaranteeing sufficient water for daily needs and agricultural production throughout the 2026–2027 dry season.
By H. THONG
Translated by X. QUANG
