Water Shortage Grips Kien Giang Island

The annual water shortage has affected thousands of residents in the southern province of Kien Giang’s Kien Hai island district, but local authorities have no solution for the repeated situation. Luong Quoc Binh, chairman of the district's People's Committee, stated that Kien Hai District comprised 23 islands, but only three large islands of Hon Tre in Hon Tre commune, Hon Lon in An Son commune, Hon Son Rai in Lai Son commune and some small islands with a few people have sufficient water. The remaining parts were suffering from a severe shortage of water, he noted. “Water to drink every day is now more expensive than my family’s food,” said Huynh Van Luan, a resident who has been living in Nam Du commune which is located about 90 kilometers offshore from the centre Rach Gia city. “In recent dry seasons, the weather has become hotter and muggier, and sometimes we have no rain for six to seven months, so the water sources on the island become scarce,” he added. Secretary of the commune’s Party Committee Huynh Van Loi stated that of the commune’s total 834 households with more than 3,600 residents, only a few of the families could buy large jars or build tanks by themselves to store rainwater, mostly for cooking and drinking. “They save water by washing and bathing in sea water and then rinsing with a small amount of drinking water,” he noted. The water price has now skyrocketed to VND160,000 per cubic meter, he said, adding that Each 20-litre can of water was sold at VND4,000–6,000. (Vietnam News May 27)