Saltwater intrusion has come earlier and deeper inland in the Mekong Delta’s coastal provinces this year, said and official of the Southern Hydrometeorology Center.

Nguyen Minh Giam, deputy director of the center, told the Daily that the water levels on southern rivers were now the lowest in as many years, causing salinity intrusion to come sooner as seen in 2003, 2004, 2005. But this is not the highest salinity level on record.

Long An, Ben Tre, and Tra Vinh provinces among others have suffered from saltwater intrusion this year. A study of the Southern Hydrometeorology Center shows that saltwater intrusion has thrush 30 to 40km inland in such coastal provinces as Soc Trang, Bac Lieu, Tra Vinh, Ben Tre, or about 10km deeper than last year.

The Southern Institute for Water Resources Research forecasts that saltwater intrusion will be the highest between March and April 15. Specifically, in April, the salinity on the Cai Lon River will be some ten grams per liter at 15km inland, some four grams per liter at about 25 kilometers, and one gram at 40km from the estuary.

On the Ham Luong River, the saltwater will be penetrating as much as 50km inland.

Tang Duc Thang, director of the institute, said that the saltwater intrusion level may change upon the water flow from upstream the Mekong River.

“We are keeping track of the water flow in the upper Mekong River. With the research we hope to gather sufficient data to give more accurate prediction on saltwater intrusion in the long term,” Thang said.

(Source: Saigon Times)