What to do to manage and develop water resources sustainably?

According to statistics, in Vietnam there are currently 3,450 rivers and streams with a total length of 10km or more, with a total water volume of about 7,936 billion cubic meters, which means an average annual volume of 936,000 billion cubic meters. Mr. Ngo Manh Ha, Deputy Director of the Department of Water Resources Management - Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, commented that with such a resource, if considered on a per capita basis, Vietnam is not a country lacking water. However, if considering the endogenous water output which only accounts for about 40%, up to 60% comes from abroad, Vietnam is a country lacking water with only 4,421 cubic meters/person/year, much lower than the average level of Southeast Asia of 4,900 cubic meters/person/year.

Not only using water economically and effectively, each citizen needs to be a supervisor of the behavior of organizations and individuals with water resources in order to preserve and protect them, so that our water resources are "precious" but do not become "rare".

While the amount of water is fixed, we are using water inefficiently and have not fully calculated the value of water resources in socio-economic development. The value of our water exploitation and use is too low. Up to 81% of the total water is used for agriculture and 11% for aquaculture, only 3% for domestic use and 5% for industry. In terms of efficiency, the profit value is only about 2.37 USD/cubic meter of water, which is only 12% compared to the whole world (19 USD/cubic meter). Many organizations and individuals exploit and use water resources unreasonably and not in accordance with legal regulations, but when there are violations, the law enforcement is not strict and not deterrent enough.

Our water resource management is also overlapping, a river is managed by many units and ministries, and is subject to the regulation of many legal documents. Mr. Nguyen Quang Huan - Member of the National Assembly's Committee on Science, Technology and Environment said that we have overlap in water resource management such as the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment manages water resources; the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Industry and Trade manage reservoirs, irrigation works, the Ministry of Industry and Trade manages dams and hydropower works, the Ministry of Transport manages waterway traffic... Moreover, administrative procedures related to water exploitation and use are not unified. Because the state management functions are not clearly defined, overlapping management leads to "no one cries for the common father", there are things that no unit takes specific responsibility for, or there are overlapping directives that are even contradictory; causing difficulties for people and businesses when participating in water resource exploitation.

In addition, the rate of treated wastewater discharged into the environment is very low. Hanoi is a locality that has made great efforts in wastewater treatment but has only ensured 28.8%, while the whole country has only 15% while water pollution is increasingly serious due to untreated wastewater from industrial production, wastewater from agriculture with fertilizers, pesticides, domestic wastewater containing many chemicals... causing water pollution. However, investment in wastewater treatment is not commensurate, currently being set at 10% of water price, which is too low compared to the world. For example, in Israel, if people have to pay 4 USD for 1 cubic meter of water, 3 USD is for wastewater treatment. Or in Europe, 1 cubic meter of water costs about 2-3 euros, the water supply fee is only 1 euro. Because of the low price, no business, organization or individual wants to participate in wastewater treatment activities.

That is also the reason why our water security index is currently 29 years, which is very low compared to developed countries. Mr. Ngo Manh Ha gave an example, Australia is approaching 49 years, while their water resources are very limited compared to Vietnam. They manage water according to the river model combined with management on a digital technology platform. All issues of exploitation, use, protection, regulation, and distribution will basically be coordinated by one agency.

Obviously, the process of socio-economic development, industrialization, urbanization; the increase in population and the need for water for people's lives, production and business are increasing rapidly; the situation of water pollution has not been thoroughly resolved, causing the deterioration of water quality... is putting pressure on us, while legal documents are lacking and there are still many things that have not been regulated. Authorities at all levels and people have not fully recognized and paid due attention, leading to lax management and lack of responsibility in inspection and supervision of the environment and water resources. The urgent problem is that we must quickly amend the legal system on water resources, and at the same time have good and early plans for water management, exploitation and use to manage sustainably.

These days, the Draft Law on Water Resources (amended) is "hot" in the National Assembly with heated debates. Due to time constraints, only about half of the registered delegates were allowed to speak in the hall. The opinions expressed were very enthusiastic and responsible, showing concern, concern and desire to build a complete Law, contributing to the completion of the legal system on water resources management, overcoming shortcomings and problems in management.

Opinions were highly unanimous on solutions to maximize the exploitation of natural resources, allocate them reasonably and use them effectively; focus on the prevention, control and restoration of degraded, depleted and polluted water sources; clearly define the responsibilities for water resource management and the responsibilities for managing water exploitation works at both central and local levels to overcome overlaps and legal conflicts.

Many opinions suggest that it is necessary to ensure the safety of water reservoirs, build more multi-purpose water reservoirs, and diversify water sources. The State needs to have appropriate policies to encourage research and investment in this field. In addition, it is necessary to apply digital technology platforms in water resource management and operation, unify databases, build support tools to reduce management and operation personnel, and state investment costs while increasing operational efficiency, gradually shifting from management by administrative tools to management by economic tools through policies on water prices, taxes, fees, charges, and fees for granting water resource exploitation rights; promote socialization, etc.

However, the important thing is from the awareness of each citizen. Accordingly, it is necessary to strengthen propaganda and education about the importance of water and the protection of water resources, methods of protecting water resources, and dangers to water resources; at the same time, there are propaganda documents for people to understand and have proper behavior with water resources, educate green lifestyles, ecological lifestyles. Each citizen needs to clearly see their responsibility in protecting, managing, and using water resources. Not only using water economically and effectively, limiting the use of chemicals and pesticides in production and life, but each person is also a supervisor of the activities of other organizations and individuals with water resources, condemning acts of destroying water resources. The country has gone through a period of "hot" development, people and businesses have better awareness in protecting the environment, protecting water resources and moving towards a green life. This is also a favorable condition for us to promote the protection of "precious" but not "rare" resources if we know how to exploit and use them.