Department of Housing Urban Planning

Transcription

1 Groundwater for Water Supply in Laos Ministry i of Public Works and Transport Department of Housing Urban Planning Water Supply Division (WSD) Small Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Project (STWSP)) ADB Grant: 0143 by: Phouvong CHANTHAVONG Urban Water Supply Status in Laos

2 Urban Water Supply Status in Laos Water Supply Operation System 17 Provincial Water Supply State Owned Enterprise, within 60 Service Areas 10 Service Areas in use Groundwater for Water Supply system Production Capacity: 316,460 m 3 /day Surface Water Source: 248, m 3 /day Spring Water Source: 51,975 m 3 /day Ground Water Source: 15,999 m 3 /day Water Production: 95, 304, 410 m 3 /year Surface Water Source: 76, ,059m /year or 80.33% Spring Water Source: 13, , m 3 /year or % Ground Water Source: 4,847,584 m 3 /year or 5.10% Urban Water Supply Status in Laos 10 Service Areas in use groundwater for water supply system

3 Major issues and challenges for using these groundwater resources Groundwater resources- extent and quality largely l unknown because of lack of systematic bore logging and yield testing. Groundwater- least tf favored water resource for rural/urban water supply - so tends to be used when there is no alternative source. Shallow bores tap the Indosian group of aquifers or the Mekong sediments - poor water quality and poor yields. Deeper bores tap the random Anniamian aquifers - good quality but calcium laden water ( hard water) and better yields l/sec. Deep bore development requires good well drilling technology, laboratory support, specialist pump and screen selection making deep water an expensive and risky water supply option. Major issues and challenges for using these groundwater resources No systematic or National approach to defining the ground water resource means using groundwater for water supply is often a high risk option for water supply. Rapid urbanization and growing populations - contamination of shallow ground-water. Urban wastewater treatment - no centralized systems Not possible to establish polluter-pays pays principles Government water quality policies and legislation for water supply only refer in a general sense to groundwater.

4 Major issues and challenges threatening groundwater resources and consequences Climate change - unknown because of lack of knowledge of effect on aquifer recharge zone: Unreliable water yield Climate change - abnormally fluctuating shallow groundwater levels can have a significant on iron and manganese content of shallow ground water. Treatment too costly Lack of a water quality data base means that for example arsenic hotspots on the plains of Southern Lao are now just being recognized as an issue. Problem is that in many cases there is no alternative to the existing, inexpensive shallow hand dd dug wells. The water resource situation for water supply. The Government e Lao PDR has a clearly defined ed Millenium Development goals for providing water supply. Lao PDR is a surface water rich country with most of the available water resource used by non consumptive activities eg hydro-power generation, navigation, fisheries so leaving it available for consumptive activities such as water supply and irrigation. Small streams in the mountains and large rivers in the plains largely meet current and existing demand for water, Areas of the southern plains not served by surface water must rely on groundwater hence the priority need to understand the groundwater resource in these areas.

5 Policy responses to mitigate the groundwater problems and difficulties Ministry of Public Works and Transport has responsibility for navigation, town water supply and drainage, riverbank protection, flood protection. One of the Ministry of Public Health s responsibilities is management of water quality standards for drinking water. Protection ti mechanisms for water resource management and water quality are the responsibility of the newly established Government organization i for the environment: WREA. WREA s responsibilities include propose a policy and regulatory framework for water resource management Policy barriers towards groundwater resource sustainability Policies need to be supported with timely Decrees, support Regulations and Decisions. Resources to support the policies are required. Expectations for the regional knowledge hub for groundwater management 1. Facilitate research and dissemination of information on the characteristics of ground water in the plains of Southern Lao PDR. 2. Support regional groundwater mapping initiatives. 3. Create special interest groups and forums eg provision of groundwater for water supply.

6 Thank you for your kind attention ti