Circular aims to curb groundwater exploitation

Individuals and organisations wanting to exploit groundwater in areas where water levels have decreased for three consecutive years, are required to register with the local People's Committees by July 15.

The move followed Circular 27/2014/TT-BTNMT recently signed by Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Nguyen Thai Lai, aimed at controlling the over-exploitation of groundwater resources throughout the country.


Lai said that individuals or organisations were also ordered to register with the committee at commune or district levels if they wanted to drill for water in both urban areas and residential zones in rural areas, where it was located on soft ground.

The circular said that there were several areas where registration was mandatory before groundwater sources could be exploited, including areas with a lot of limestone; delta and coastal areas interlaced between fresh water and salt water.

In addition, individuals or organisations, owning bore wells, with a depth of more than 20 metres and a capacity to supply below 10 cubic metres daily, had to register with People's Committees at commune or district levels before exploiting groundwater sources, Lai said.

The ministry assigned all departments of Natural Resources and Environment nationwide to quickly make a list of areas required to register before they begin drilling for water, he said.

Lai added that the People's Committee at commune or district levels had to send feedback to individuals or organisations within 10 days of receiving the registration papers.

Lai asked the People's Committee at the provincial levels and the Department of Water Resources Management to cooperate with relevant agencies to implement the circular