Groundwater Resources in the Mekong Delta: Availability, Utilization and Risks

Abstract

Surface water resources in the Mekong Delta (MD) are under increasing strain due to unplanned extraction, pollution, salinization and climate change effects. As a consequence, groundwater has become an increasingly important resource since the 1990s. Nevertheless, in some regions the ongoing exploitation has reached the capacity limits of the aquifers, challenging scientists and decision makers in order to satisfy the increasing water demand in the MD. New groundwater exploration studies are often hindered by the complexity of the subsurface structure and the hydrogeo- logical system of the MD, which still needs further investigations. Therefore, this chapter provides an overview of the hydrogeology in the MD in Vietnam based on recently published and unpublished studies. It interlinks Late Pleistocene and Holocene sea level change with modern groundwater resources and concludes with possibilities and obstacles regarding current exploitation and future exploration studies. Furthermore, the fi nal section focuses on the role of groundwater for domestic, industrial and agricultural water supply in the MD and addresses implications for the future exploration and management strategies.