JavaScript is off. Please enable to view full site.

Scarce water resources threaten Phu Quoc tourism

Scarce water resources threaten Phu Quoc tourism

Monday, October 03, 2016, 18:21 GMT+7

Vietnam’s Phu Quoc Island is facing overwhelming growth in local tourism against the backdrop of a rapid decline in clean water.

Phu Quoc, a famous tourist island off the southern province of Kien Giang, welcomes over one million visitors per year.

The island’s water supply is primarily stored in the Duong Dong Reservoir, which has a capacity of five million cubic meters, and in local lakes and streams, thanks to thick vegetation and high rainfall.

A large number of resorts and hotels have been constructed on the island at the expense of its diminishing fresh water resources.

According to local residents, fresh water could previously be found between five and ten meters underground; however, in recent years water has been scarce, even at 60m below the surface.

A probe by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper showed that fresh water on the island has been excessively exploited, with over 20 facilities and unlicensed organizations drilling wells.

Nguyen Van Dung, a borehole driller in An Thoi Town, said his team constructs eight to ten wells on a monthly basis.

Underground water resources have been in rising demand for the daily life and cultivation activities of local islanders, as well as for the operation of resorts and hotels.

Threatening local tourism

According to Huynh Thanh Ha, deputy director of the Phu Quoc water supply branch, the island is home to about 100,000 locals and receives tens of thousands of visitors and migrant workers.

Given average water consumption of 120 liters per resident per day and 300 liters a day per tourist, along with the amount needed for the local industry and service sector, the island will consume 70,000 cubic meters of fresh water by 2020, Ha elaborated.

Aside from the underground source, tap water is also provided to the people by the Phu Quoc water supply branch.

However, with a maximum capacity of only 16,500 cubic meters per day, the facility can only meet the demand of residents in Duong Dong and An Thoi Towns, Ha stated.

According to an island development plan, five reservoirs and several water factories are set to be built but no construction has yet to be initiated, putting enormous pressure on local ground water resources.

Ha urged resort and hotel operators to stop exploiting the limited source of water and called on the state to expedite water supply projects.

Investment capital for such construction projects should be channeled from multiple sources due to the lack of financial capacity of the local budget, the deputy director added.

More

Read more

;

Photos

VIDEOS

‘Taste of Australia’ gala dinner held in Ho Chi Minh City after 2-year hiatus

Taste of Australia Gala Reception has returned to the Park Hyatt Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City's District 1 after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Vietnamese woman gives unconditional love to hundreds of adopted children

Despite her own immense hardship, she has taken in and cared for hundreds of orphans over the past three decades.

Vietnam’s Mekong Delta celebrates spring with ‘hat boi’ performances

The art form is so popular that it attracts people from all ages in the Mekong Delta

Vietnamese youngster travels back in time with clay miniatures

Each work is a scene caught by Dung and kept in his memories through his journeys across Vietnam

Latest news