In Vietnam, water reservoirs run low amid rainy season as El Nino threat grows

The Dakkdrinh hydropower reservoir, which has a designed capacity of 248 million cubic meters, currently has a water level of 380 meters, about three meters above its dead storage level.

According to Quang Ngai Irrigation Works Exploitation Company, 24 reservoirs under its management in eastern Quang Ngai have stored about 54 percent of their combined designed capacity.

The Nuoc Trong reservoir has reached 57.4 percent of capacity, while Nui Ngang and An Tho reservoirs have reached 34.7 percent and 34.5 percent, respectively.

Liet Son reservoir has stored only 25.1 percent of its designed capacity.

Nuoc Trong, the largest reservoir in eastern Quang Ngai, is located in Son Ha Commune and currently stands 12.43 meters below its normal full supply level.

The reservoir has a designed capacity of nearly 290 million cubic meters.

It supplies irrigation water to more than 50,000 hectares of agricultural land downstream of the Tra Khuc River, as well as domestic and industrial water to Tinh Phong and VSIP industrial parks.

To prepare for El Nino, Quang Ngai Irrigation Works Exploitation Company has proposed suspending power generation at Nuoc Trong Hydropower Plant and asked the provincial government to allow early water storage.

The company is also preparing a rotational irrigation plan for the upcoming winter-spring crop, a representative said.

At Nui Ngang reservoir in Ba Dong Commune, the water level stands at 55.19 meters, 5.81 meters below its normal full supply level.

The Quang Ngai provincial hydro-meteorological station forecasts that inflows to the reservoir will range from 4.4 to 8.8 cubic meters per second in November.

Liet Son reservoir in Duc Pho Ward has stored about 25 percent of its designed capacity.

Continued water shortages could affect water supplies to areas downstream of the Tra Cau River.

3 hydropower plants suspend power generation

As of November 5, three hydropower plants in Quang Ngai, namely Dakkdrinh, Nuoc Trong and Nui Ngang, had suspended power generation to store water.

Nguyen Duy Nghia, head of the technical department at Dakkdrinh Hydropower JSC, said the suspension would affect the company's electricity production.

However, the company was complying with directives from ministries and the provincial government to help secure water supplies for production in 2027, he said.

Quang Ngai Irrigation Works Exploitation Company requested that Nuoc Trong and Nui Ngang hydropower plants suspend power generation from November 3 to prioritize water storage.

The plants are expected to resume generation on December 5, when water releases for the winter-spring crop are scheduled to begin.

The irrigation company has also instructed its subordinate units to prepare plans to address drought and saltwater intrusion and implement rotational irrigation.

The plans prioritize domestic water supplies and agricultural areas facing a high risk of water shortages.

On November 4, the chairman of the Quang Ngai People's Committee issued a dispatch directing provincial departments, agencies and local authorities to implement measures against potential drought and water shortages caused by El Nino.

The provincial government also instructed relevant agencies to regularly assess water supplies at reservoirs, irrigation systems and water supply facilities.

They must prepare response plans for multiple scenarios, including cases in which water availability is worse than forecast.