In a report by the International Water Association, a country with inland surface water output of less than 4,000 cubic metres per head per annum can be considered as lacking water.

Vietnam has an average surface water volume of about 830 billion cubic metres per year, but two thirds of that figure comes from other countries. 

With a population of over 90 million, each Vietnamese citizen receives only 3,370 cubic metres of water per year.

Highlighting the importance of water resources and the role of civil societies in water resource management at a forum held on Friday, experts raised concerns on issues related to water resource reduction, water pollution, misuse and mismanagement.

Dao Trong Tu, vice-chairman of Vietnam Irrigation and Drainage Association and head of Vietnam Rivers Network, said that the construction of hydropower plants along rivers was blocking the flow, causing water shortages for people living downstream.

On the 100km long Ma River, there were five hydropower plants, Dao said.

In Hanoi alone, at least six rivers are polluted, he said, adding that untreated waste water from households, industrial zones or trade villages was flooding into the rivers and impacting people’s health.

“Vietnamese people usually used groundwater for drinking, but now, the groundwater resources are polluted and exhausted because of improper management,” he said, adding that efforts were needed to tackle the problem.

“Vietnam has a relatively good legal framework on water resources, but the enforcement is not as good as it should be.”

He added that the impacts of climate change and extreme weather were also affecting the country’s water resources.