Safety of reservoirs, dams, and downstream areas is the top priority

Ensuring the safety of dams and reservoirs

Mr. Phung Dinh Thanh, Deputy Director of Ninh Thuan Irrigation Management Co., Ltd., said that in the province, there are currently 22 irrigation reservoirs with a total design capacity of 414 million m³. As of November 15, the amount of water in reservoirs reached 325 million m³, of which Song Cai Lake, with a capacity of 219.8 million m³, currently reaches 196 million m³.

Ninh Thuan is a locality where drought often occurs, and the rainy season only lasts about 3 months. However, the task of preventing and controlling natural disasters is always given top priority by Ninh Thuan Irrigation Management Company to ensure the safety of reservoirs and dams and the lives and property of people in the downstream areas in emergency situations when it is mandatory to regulate water from reservoirs. Accordingly, natural disaster response plans and emergency response plans for 22 reservoirs are annually developed and submitted to the Provincial People's Committee for approval.

To ensure reservoir safety during the rainy and flood seasons, Ninh Thuan Irrigation Management Company has assigned tasks to members of the Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control and Search and Rescue to monitor each specific area. When there is heavy rain, the company assigns leaders of irrigation stations to be on duty 24/7 to direct staff to participate in natural disaster prevention and control and search and rescue at reservoirs.

In addition, the company proactively coordinates with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Water Resources Sub-Department, and localities to inspect and evaluate the present safety status of irrigation structures before the rainy and flood seasons. Chair and coordinate with localities in meetings to agree on coordination regulations with the Steering Committees for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control and Search and Rescue in downstream localities affected by operating and regulating reservoir water discharge. This aims to draw experiences in natural disaster prevention and control, and search and rescue, and agree on a coordinated action plan when natural disasters occur.

For reservoirs that operate and regulate flood discharge by gates, the company regularly carries out maintenance and trial operation of all flood discharge equipment. Inspect and promptly repair damaged mechanical equipment. Fully equipped with generators and batteries for backup in case of a power outage. Prepare all kinds of backup materials, tools, equipment, and necessities, enough for daily activities in 15-20 days, at warehouses, lakes, and dams when there is a separation incident during the rainy and flood seasons.

Strengthen the inspection of dam and reservoir safety to detect damage and promptly repair it in order to ensure the safety of structures and downstream areas. Develop plans to protect dams and reservoirs and respond to natural disasters and emergency situations. Promote the installation of information warning devices when the water level in the reservoir drops. Proactively exploit and effectively operate automatic rainfall and water level monitoring devices in reservoirs and water-raising dams. Apply early warning software for the Dinh River to serve the regulation and operation of flood discharge in reservoirs.

Giving a 6-hour advance notice when regulating water

Phuoc Hai commune, Ninh Phuoc district, is a locality at the end of the downstream area, so it is often flooded every time floods occur or reservoirs increase water discharge to lower the water level in the lake. However, thanks to close, rhythmic, and synchronous coordination with the Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control and Search and Rescue at all levels, especially with Ninh Thuan Irrigation Management Company, the damage to people’s property was reduced to a minimum.

Mr. Nguyen An Hoa, Chairman of Phuoc Hai Commune People's Committee, said that before water discharges, Ninh Thuan Irrigation Management Company always gives a 6-hour advance notice to the Steering Committees for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control and Search and Rescue in downstream localities directly affected for preparations. This aims to ensure safety for people and property and properly and fully implement the coordination regulations set out at the reservoirs.

Mr. Le Pham Hoa Binh, Deputy Director of Ninh Thuan Irrigation Management Co., Ltd., said that during the rainy and flood season, the work of operating and regulating to lower the water level of the reservoirs managed by the company not only ensures dam safety but also ensures safety for people in downstream areas, which is of special concern to the company.

Accordingly, for some reservoirs that often have large flood flows, such as Tan Giang Lake, Tra Co Lake, and Song Cai Lake, the company decides to operate water lowering early to welcome floods. Thereby reducing the amount of water discharged downstream in case of heavy rain in downstream areas, promoting the flood reduction effectiveness of reservoirs, and ensuring safety for people in downstream areas.

Along with that, the company focuses on discharging water during the day, limiting large discharges at night to create favorable conditions for localities to move people and property to safe places, and proactively responding to emergency incidents.

“We take the most advantage of the reservoir's designed flood prevention capacity to regulate floods and reduce discharge downstream when there is heavy rain or flooding downstream. During each operation to increase or decrease the opening of the overflow gates, the company promptly informs the localities directly via phone, email, etc. After each discharge period ends, the company will notify the localities so that people can return to normal production activities," said Mr. Le Pham Hoa Binh, Deputy Director of Ninh Thuan Irrigation Management Co., Ltd.