The Southern Region Hydrometerological Center on Monday predicted that salinity intrusion in the south would peak at the end of April, severely affecting . . .

Saltwater has invaded thousands of hectares of rice paddy in various districts of the southern provinces of Soc Trang, Bac Lieu and Hau Giang in 2009. (Photo: VNS)

She said that salt levels at Dai Ngai Station along the Hau River had increased from 3.0 grams per liter to 8.1 grams per liter now, while salinity at Phu Khanh Station along the Tien River had also increased from 5.9 grams to 11 grams per liter.

Ben Luc Station in Long An Province reported a 5.2 gram per liter salt content, up from the previous 3.9 grams per liter. Salt penetration at Saigon-Nha Be Station along the Nha Be River has increased markedly to 15.9 grams per liter compared to last week’s 13.9 grams per liter.

Hanh said that salinity intrusion had moved 60 kilometers further inland into the basins of the Tien and Hau rivers.

Dau Tieng Reservoir just poured about 4.1 million cubic meters of fresh water into the Saigon River to dilute salinity in its lower sections. The move will ensure tap water production at Tan Hiep Water Plant in Hoc Mon.

Bui Thanh Giang, director of Tan Hiep Water Plant, told the Daily on Monday that the salt level at Hoa Phu Station was about 90 milligrams per liter, still safe for tap water.

The plant is carefully monitoring salinity intrusion. If salt levels reach 250 milligrams per liter, the plant will immediately stop taking crude water from the river, Giang said.

Meanwhile, Nguyen Trong Thanh, chairman of Dau Tieng Reservoir Irrigation Service Company, told the Daily on Monday that the reservoir still contains some 848 million cubic meters of water after discharging 40 million cubic meters into the Saigon River.

He said the reservoir would discharge a further 378 million cubic meters of water between March 20 and 31 to serve irrigation activities in Tay Ninh Province and HCMC.

Tieng added that it would stop discharging water from April 1 to 15 to ensure the reservoir maintained a safe water level of 470 million cubic meters.

VietNamNet/SGT