Water Pollution's Risks In Vietnam: Understanding The Dangers

Vietnam is facing a water crisis, with water pollution posing a significant threat to the country's economy, public health, and food security. The nation's rapid economic and demographic growth, urbanization, industrialization, and agricultural practices have led to increased water demand, improper water usage, and severe water contamination. Vietnam's unique geography and topography also make it susceptible to natural disasters such as typhoons, storms, floods, and droughts, further exacerbating water pollution issues. The government, alongside organizations like the World Bank, is implementing various strategies, projects, and policies to address water security and pollution management. However, the challenges of inefficient water management, inadequate infrastructure, and the impact of climate change continue to threaten Vietnam's water resources and future growth prospects.

Arsenic contamination in drinking water

Vietnam is an agricultural country with a population of about 88 million, with some 18 million inhabitants living in the Red River Delta in Northern Vietnam. The residents are concentrated mainly in the Red River Delta in the North and in the Mekong River Delta in the South. The Mekong River Delta is also affected by arsenic contamination.

Arsenic contamination of groundwater in Vietnam was first discovered in the Hanoi region in 1998, with an average concentration of 159 μg/L. This is fifteen times higher than the drinking water standard for arsenic in Vietnam (10 μg/L) and the WHO guideline for arsenic in drinking water (10 μg/L). The magnitude of groundwater arsenic contamination is therefore comparable to the situation in Bangladesh and West Bengal, India.

In the Northern region of Vietnam around Hanoi, there is evidence of arsenic contamination in the drinking water. About 7 million people living in this area are at severe risk of arsenic poisoning, and since elevated levels of arsenic can cause cancer, neurological and skin problems, this is a serious issue. In a highly affected rural area, the groundwater used directly as drinking water had an average concentration of 430 μg/L. Analysis of raw groundwater pumped from the lower aquifer for the Hanoi water supply yielded arsenic levels of 240−320 μg/L in three of eight treatment plants and 37−82 μg/L in another five plants. Aeration and sand filtration are applied in the treatment plants for iron removal, lowering the arsenic concentrations to levels of 25−91 μg/L, but 50% still remain above the Vietnamese Standard of 50 μg/L.

The arsenic burden and metabolism in humans depend on arsenic exposure levels and the age of the individuals. Arsenic concentrations in hair often exceed 1 μg/g, a level at which skin lesions are known to develop. The percentage of inorganic arsenic (IA) in urine decreases with age, whereas the opposite trend is observed for monomethylarsonic acid (MMA). Significant co-interactions of age and arsenic exposure status were also detected for concentrations of arsenic in hair and the sum of IA, MMA, and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) in urine and %MMA.

The Vietnamese government is tackling water resources management issues by implementing policies and programs. However, the country's water resources have increasingly deteriorated due to deforestation, environmental pollution, and global climate changes.

Waterborne diseases

Vietnam's water crisis is a significant issue, with the country facing various challenges related to water pollution and waterborne diseases. The risks of water pollution in Vietnam are multifaceted and have severe impacts on public health, agriculture, and the economy.

The integrated livestock, crops, and fish (VAC) model, which has been important to Vietnam's economic and ecological sustainability, is now under threat due to emerging waterborne diseases. Avian influenza and the potential for zoonotic diseases from small-scale farms have jeopardized the VAC model's effectiveness. Small-scale farmers who raise pigs, perceive a higher risk of waterborne diseases, and value the advice of healthcare workers are more likely to engage in mitigation practices.

The geography and topography of Vietnam also contribute to the country's susceptibility to natural disasters such as typhoons, storms, floods, and droughts, which further compound the issues of water pollution and waterborne diseases. Additionally, Vietnam's rapid economic and agricultural growth has led to increased water demand, improper water usage, and subsequent pollution. Industrialization and urbanization have resulted in rampant water contamination, with untreated wastewater, oil waste, solids, and agricultural runoff polluting river systems.

Access to clean water and sanitation is a significant challenge in Vietnam, particularly in rural areas. Only 39% of the rural population has access to safe water and sanitation, and in certain regions, such as the Northern area around Hanoi, drinking water is contaminated with arsenic, putting approximately seven million people at risk of arsenic poisoning. Furthermore, agricultural practices, such as the overuse of fertilizers and pesticides, contaminate both surface and groundwater sources, impacting water quality and sustainability.

To address these issues, Vietnam has implemented short-term, medium-term, and long-term strategies for water resources planning. Organizations like the World Bank have also stepped in to develop improved irrigation systems, benefiting farming households and driving up yields and incomes. Despite these efforts, water management remains a complex challenge, and the impact of interventions on Vietnam's burgeoning water crisis is yet to be fully realized.

Water shortages

The shortage of water in Vietnam is exacerbated by the country's geography and topography, which make it susceptible to natural hazards such as typhoons, storms, floods, and droughts. These natural disasters can cause water pollution and impact agricultural lands and livestock, further reducing the availability of clean water. Additionally, the lack of physical infrastructure and financial capacity has led to low utilization of water supplies and uneven distribution of rainfall, resulting in water shortages throughout the country.

The agricultural sector in Vietnam, which accounts for over 70% of total water use, is particularly vulnerable to water shortages. Poor farmers often resort to using wastewater and even human excreta for irrigation, posing health risks to themselves and consumers, especially in the case of rice production. The overuse of fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture also contributes to water contamination, further reducing the availability of clean water.

The Vietnamese government has recognized the importance of water resources and is working to improve water resources management. However, there is a need for more targeted policy interventions to achieve equity in the distribution of water, especially in the agricultural sector. Organizations like the World Bank have also stepped in to develop improved irrigation systems, but more needs to be done to address the country's water shortage crisis.

Inefficient water management in agriculture

Vietnam is one of the richest agricultural regions in the world and a top producer and consumer of rice. Agriculture accounts for over 70% of the total water use in Vietnam, and the country has 2,000 rivers, which should provide a copious supply of water. However, due to inefficient water management in agriculture, Vietnam is facing a water crisis.

Firstly, farmers do not pay directly for water, so they have no incentive to conserve it. This has been exacerbated by the government waiving irrigation fees for most users since 2008, encouraging farmers to cultivate water-intensive crops, especially rice. Secondly, irrigation finance is dependent on a limited government budget, and the demand for irrigation investment continues to increase. This has resulted in insufficient administrative intervention to address water contamination, imbalanced water distribution, and salination. Thirdly, Vietnam's geography and topography make the country susceptible to natural hazards such as typhoons, storms, floods, and droughts, which lead to water pollution and impact agricultural lands.

The World Bank has been supporting Vietnam's journey to water security, with a focus on building resilience and mitigating the impacts of a changing climate. They have helped improve safety conditions in 436 irrigation dams, protecting 4.3 million people from potential dam failures. The World Bank has also developed an improved irrigation system that benefited 215,000 farming households and increased yields and incomes.

Despite these efforts, inefficient water management in agriculture continues to contribute to the country's greenhouse gas emissions and jeopardize future growth. Vietnam's water challenges are predicted to worsen, with water stress during the dry season in key river basins expected to increase in the next decade.

Climate change

Vietnam is highly vulnerable to climate change impacts. The country's vulnerability is exacerbated by its 2,150-mile-long coastline and proximity to the tropics, with the majority of its population and economic assets concentrated in the coastal lowlands. Climate change could impact more than 12% of the Vietnamese population and reduce growth by 10% by 2100.

The country has been experiencing increasingly severe droughts, rising sea levels, and more frequent and intense storms, typhoons, and floods due to climate change. These extreme weather events have direct and indirect impacts on human health and the environment, leading to an increase in waterborne, foodborne, and vector-borne diseases, nutritional insecurity, and mental health disorders. The geography and topography of Vietnam make the country susceptible to these natural hazards, which, in turn, lead to water pollution and further impact agricultural lands and livestock.

Agriculture, which accounts for over 70% of total water use in Vietnam, is a significant contributor to water pollution. The overuse of fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture contaminates both surface and groundwater. In addition, wastewater use in agriculture is prevalent, with many poor farmers using wastewater and human excreta, posing health risks to those applying these resources in the fields and consuming the crops, especially in rice production.

The Vietnamese government recognizes the challenges posed by climate change and has implemented environmental policies to better cope with these risks. The government has set ambitious targets for reducing emissions, including a commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. To achieve this, Vietnam passed the Revised Law on Environmental Protection, which gives communities a more prominent role in conservation and imposes responsibilities on corporations to control pollution and limit environmental impacts.

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