The Impact of Natural and Socio-Economic Conditions on the Stability of Groundwater Resources in Cao Bang Province, Vietnam

Abstract

Cao Bang Province, Vietnam, is facing a water shortage that affects daily life and the economic development of the locality, especially in mountainous areas. The study of the impact of natural, and socio-economic conditions on the stability of groundwater in some highland regions where water is scarce in Cao Bang province is the basis for developing a suitable water exploitation management plan, ensuring the lives of local people. By collecting documents, conducting field surveys, consulting with the community, and analyzing samples in the laboratory, the study found that the total population in 10 highland areas in 7 districts was 12,398 people who were lacking domestic water and predicted that the water demand by 2030 would be 1,823 m3/day. In addition, the study results showed that the exploitable underground water reserve was 14,748 m3/day, meeting the current and future water supply needs of the locality. In addition, the findings show that natural conditions have a strong impact on the stability of water resources because the area is located in a mountainous area, which creates complex water formation conditions, and irregular rainfall, flood and flow regimes. In addition, socio-economic conditions only have a low and medium impact on the stability of water resources because there has not been much investment in economic development in these areas, the population is sparse, the demand for water is low and the number of water exploitation works is not high. Therefore, the study has proposed a number of suitable water exploitation solutions to serve the domestic water supply for local people, ensuring economic development and limiting the current water scarcity.