Utilizing Aquifer Storage and Recovery as a Sustainable Water Supply Solution for Water-Scarce Regions in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam

Currently, in the context of climate change and socio-economic development, the issues of water scarcity and the increasing salinization of groundwater in regions with limited water resources are of substantial concern. In response, the Prime Minister has authorized a program focused on investigating and exploring groundwater sources to fulfill domestic water requirements in these regions, intending to expand its implementation scope. Among the areas profoundly affected by these challenges lies the Mekong Delta (MKD). Internationally and domestically, a range of solutions have been proposed and examined in research settings to tackle these problems. Nevertheless, specific solutions have proven to be costly, technically intricate, or incompatible with local customs, resulting in the inefficient utilization of resources. Consequently, the primary objective of this study is to suggest suitable and sustainable approaches to alleviate salinization in groundwater extraction within water-scarce regions of the MKD. The research methodology encompasses comprehensive data collection and supplementary surveys to evaluate groundwater salinization’s present status and root causes in water-scarce areas. One such solution is the implementation of Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) technology, involving the recharge of abundant freshwater from sand dunes along the Mekong Deltaic coast during the rainy season. This freshwater is then stored in deeper, saline upper Pleistocene aquifers and subsequently extracted during the dry season to meet water supply needs. Based on available data from prior research, additional investigations and a thorough analysis of influencing factors have been conducted to delineate potential areas for the ASR solution using GIS overlay mapping techniques, which have been delineated into 03 areas with low, medium, and high applicable. A pilot project at the household level in My Chanh village, Chau Thanh district, Tra Vinh province, has been tested and validated as a potential area for this solution. The results from the pilot project and simulation outcomes affirm the promise of the identified potential areas for the ASR solution, warranting further investment.