Lam Dong Province orders cleanup of agricultural waste from key water source for Da Lat

The provincial People’s Committee said on Thursday that deputy chairman Nguyen Ngoc Phuc had directed Lac Duong District to immediately collect pesticide packaging and organic waste accumulating in the reservoir, which also supplies irrigation and hydroelectric power.

Dankia – Suoi Vang provides more than 50,000 cubic meters of clean water per day to Da Lat City and part of Lac Duong Town, and irrigates some 350 hectares of farmland.

However, the reservoir is now surrounded by waste runoff from roughly 1,600 hectares of nearby agricultural land — the main source of contamination.

Officials estimate that only 50 percent to 60 percent of the debris swept to the lake’s edge has been cleared so far, particularly following the recent heavy rainfall.

Phuc urged local authorities to invest in additional trash containment systems, such as collection pits and mesh barriers, and to launch public awareness campaigns to discourage dumping waste into the watershed.

He said waste management in the reservoir area was especially critical during the rainy season, when large volumes of trash are carried downstream into the lake via feeder streams.

The provincial government has also ordered annual dredging of the reservoir and its tributaries to increase water storage and reduce pollution.

Relevant agencies have been instructed to complete the cleanup within this month and consider tendering the waste collection work to ensure long-term environmental protection and safe drinking water for the city.