Increased saltwater intrusion along various rivers and streams in the provinces of Ben Tre and Tien Giang in the Mekong Delta has resulted in salinity levels rising to 2.2-5 parts per thousand (ppt), impacting the livelihoods of over 100,000 families.

Dang Hoang Lam, the director of the Ben Tre Province Hydro-Meteorological Station, stated on Tuesday that salinity levels in Ben Tre City’s rivers have soared to 5 ppt. He also projected further increases in salinity levels over the next 2-7 days.

The normal salinity level for potable water is 0.5 ppt. Water with higher salinity levels should not be used for cooking, and once salinity levels exceed very high thresholds (around 3 ppt), they become unsuitable for showering and laundry, posing risks to washing machines and water heaters. The My Hoa Station, situated approximately 48 km from the estuary, registered salinity levels as high as 10 ppt.

Elevated salinity levels have adversely affected more than 50,000 families in the region. To address salt intrusion, the Ben Tre Water Supply and Sewerage company has begun pumping untreated water from upstream for treatment and distribution to households in Ben Tre. Water supply units have also devised plans to utilize barges for transporting uncontaminated water from alternate sources.

In Tien Giang, the provincial Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention, Search, and Rescue reported salinity levels along the Tien River section in My Tho City reaching 2.2-3.2 ppt, surpassing levels recorded during the same period last year. These heightened salinity levels have impacted over 51,000 families.

This dry season, saltwater intrusion is anticipated to be more severe and prolonged than in previous years. Historically, this phenomenon has affected river systems in Ben Tre, impacting the lives of tens of thousands of families. In Tien Giang, the gates of the Nguyen Tan Thanh channel, one of the Mekong Delta’s largest, were closed a week earlier than usual to prevent saltwater contamination of freshwater sources.