Directive No. 02/2004/CT-BTNMT on Strengthening the Management of Underground Water Resources

DIRECTIVE

Regarding Strengthening Management of Underground Water Resources

Underground water is an important resource serving domestic water supply for the people and contributing to the development of the national economy and society. The rapid development of industrial and service activities during the period of industrialization and modernization, along with urbanization and population growth, has created a growing demand for water both in quantity and quality, exerting significant pressure on underground water resources.

In recent years, management of water resources in general and underground water in particular has achieved certain results. However, the implementation of water resource management still faces many shortcomings and has not been given adequate attention, especially in the strict management of exploration, exploitation, and utilization of underground water; the situation of unregulated or non-compliant exploration and exploitation of underground water, violations of regulations protecting water resources, leading to depletion and degradation of water quantity and quality, is widespread.

Due to the slow resolution of these weaknesses in management, underground water has shown signs of decline in both quantity and quality, causing water levels to drop, pollution, saltwater intrusion, and land subsidence in some areas, adversely affecting domestic water supply in many regions.

To rectify and strengthen the management of underground water resources to ensure sustainable exploitation of this resource, the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment instructs the Departments of Natural Resources and Environment of provinces and centrally-administered cities and relevant units under the Ministry to implement the following tasks:

1. The Departments of Natural Resources and Environment shall be responsible for:

a) Implementing and intensifying the enforcement of the Law on Water Resources, Decision No. 05/2003/QĐ-BTNMT dated September 4, 2003 of the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment regarding permits for exploration, exploitation, and drilling of underground water, and other related legal documents to effectively manage and protect underground water resources.

b) Organizing inspections and audits of underground water exploitation and drilling activities; preventing and stopping unauthorized exploitation without registration or permit as required by law; suspending or recommending competent authorities to suspend operations of organizations and individuals lacking technical capacity for drilling and failing to protect underground water during operations; strengthening supervision and monitoring of construction processes of exploration and exploitation wells.

c) Investigating and assessing the current status of underground water exploitation within their jurisdiction; evaluating water level drops and water quality for centralized underground water exploitation projects; determining the impact of exploitation on depletion, saltwater intrusion, water pollution, and land subsidence; delineating areas where water levels have dropped excessively; identifying polluted water sources and reporting to competent authorities for appropriate measures to address and remedy the situation.

d) Inspecting and registering damaged wells that are no longer operational, unused observation wells, and old exploration boreholes to properly handle these boreholes to prevent contamination of underground water.

đ) Developing plans for the exploitation, use, and protection of underground water within the province's scope, initially focusing on key areas including urban zones, industrial zones, concentrated underground water exploitation areas, water-scarce regions, and areas exploiting underground water for aquaculture, submitting them to the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities for approval and implementation.

e) Organizing training and capacity building for natural resources and environmental management staff at district and commune levels on the protection, sustainable exploitation, and use of underground water resources. Enhancing public awareness and dissemination of laws on water resources and environmental protection.

g) When reviewing, approving, and issuing permits for underground water exploitation projects, it is essential to assess and forecast water level drops and water quality throughout the exploitation period; selecting suitable well designs to ensure the preservation of underground water quality.

h) Every six months, the Departments of Natural Resources and Environment shall report on the work carried out, difficulties encountered, and proposals for water resource management in their localities to the Water Resources Management Agency for consolidation and reporting to the Minister.

2. The Water Resources Management Agency shall be responsible for:

a) Promptly drafting legal documents to serve state management of water resources in general and underground water in particular.

b) Leading and coordinating with the Planning and Finance Department, Science and Technology Department, relevant units within the Ministry, and the Departments of Natural Resources and Environment of provinces and centrally-administered cities to develop plans for investigating the current status of underground water exploitation and inventorying underground water resources, submitting them to the Minister for consideration and approval. Initially, from now until the end of 2005, completing investigations on the current status of water resource exploitation and use in key economic regions and areas exploiting underground water for aquaculture.

c) Strengthening guidance to local natural resources and environmental management agencies in water resource management; developing and implementing communication programs to disseminate and promote laws on water resources and the protection of underground water.

d) Leading and coordinating with the Departments of Natural Resources and Environment of provinces and centrally-administered cities to implement the development of underground water exploitation plans for territorial and key economic areas.

đ) Guiding the Departments of Natural Resources and Environment in the development of underground water exploitation, use, and protection plans in provinces.

3. The Vietnam Geological and Mineral Resources Department shall be responsible for:

a) Chair and coordinate with the National Groundwater Resources Management Agency to review the implementation of the basic geological investigation plan for groundwater, and groundwater dynamic monitoring; propose solutions to accelerate the progress of implementation, focusing on key economic regions, concentrated residential areas lacking potable water, ethnic minority regions, and mountainous areas.

b) Annually compile and report to the Minister the results of groundwater dynamic monitoring at national networks, assess the water level and quality of groundwater resources.

4. The Environmental Protection Agency shall be responsible for:

Strengthening inspections, audits, and supervision of activities causing environmental pollution that affect the quality of groundwater; intensifying the implementation of measures to reduce environmental pollution; guiding provincial Natural Resources and Environment Departments to monitor the impact of recent avian influenza burial pits on the quality of groundwater.

5. The Inspectorate of the Ministry shall be responsible for:

Chair and coordinate with the National Groundwater Resources Management Agency, the Environmental Protection Agency, and related units within the Ministry to develop plans for inspection, audit, and enhanced inspection and audit work on the exploitation, utilization, and protection of water resources, including groundwater.

The National Groundwater Resources Management Agency shall be responsible for guiding provincial Natural Resources and Environment Departments in implementing this Directive; periodically reporting to the Ministry on the implementation status of this Directive./.