Assessment of groundwater’s pressure by the water poverty index for Tien Giang province

Abstract

Tien Giang is a coastal province of the Mekong Delta with a high socio - economic development rate in the region. This means an increase in the demand for natural resources, including groundwater resources, from many economic sectors such as a living, industry, and cultivation. According to the groundwater monitoring results report from 2015 to 2021 of the Center for Natural Resources and Environment Monitoring of Tien Giang Province, the groundwater level in the main aquifers is decreasing at an average rate from 0.54 to 0.84 m/ year in the province. The quality of groundwater shows signs of salinity. In order to assess the current exploitation status, as well as the risk of decline in both quantity and quality of groundwater resources in Tien Giang Province, the study applies the water poverty index (WPI). This index synthesizes economic, social and environmental factors. Through WPI calculations, local groundwater resources are under moderate to severe pressure, especially in densely populated areas (Cities and towns in the province) and large industrial zones. The level of pressure increases in coastal districts, which are almost entirely dependent on groundwater with lower WPI values. The main reasons are the rapid increase in resource demand, easy access to exploitation sources and poor management.