The current shortage of domestic water in Hung Son border commune, Da Nang is a typical example. The only water source from the stream was cut off after a landslide. The self- movements of the two villages of Dading and Pon were knocked down in the forest. Hundreds of people were "thirsty" while the flood and landslides surrounded them on all sides. Lack of domestic water in mountainous areas is very difficult to handle - especially during times of severe natural disasters such as flash floods and landslides that are still everywhere.
On the contrary, in low-lying areas, the problem of lack of clean water for daily use during prolonged floods becomes very serious. The clean water system in many places was stopped. It can be caused by flooding, power outages, damage caused by water drift... Low-lying areas are often flooded with mud. Not only does it cause difficulties in daily life but it also causes unsanitary conditions and poses a potential risk of epidemics.
Teachers have to carry water to school to cook for children; people are drained of rainwater; tankers and rescue forces have to run day and night to transport each block of water to residential areas; the Department of Construction must activate emergency water supply such as... fire fighting. The authorities have spent a lot of effort to support when there is a shortage of water.
Therefore, proactively developing clean water sources requires "updating" to the "4 on-site" - on-site materials list. Like other essential items. Avoid passive cases and lack of clean water as currently happening in disaster areas in the Central region.
In Binh Yen village, Que Phuoc commune, Da Nang, it has been done. The locality built three large tanks to store well water before the rainy season. The road has been cut off for a whole week but people still have enough water. This is an effective model in the short term, and needs to be replicated.
With most of the communities in many provinces along the eastern border of the Truong Son range using self- movements of water, water from well dams, streams at the headwaters, and drainage to villages for use. The water here is inherently clean and purified, but if it is completely dependent on a single source, it will be passive like in Hung Son. Extreme natural disasters will continue. The Central region and vulnerable areas cannot forever chase the flood to overcome the shortage of clean water. Water infrastructure must be invested like investing in dykes, like rice reserves and like evacuation plans. Clean water must be prepared, stored and protected in advance.
Only then will people in mountainous areas, low-lying areas, and landslide areas not have to travel long distances, carry or pick up buckets of water in the midst of floods and landslides.
