Seasonal dynamics of groundwater chemical composition in the Mekong river delta

Cover Page

Cite item

Full Text

Open Access Open Access
Restricted Access Access granted
Restricted Access Subscription or Fee Access

Abstract

The Mekong Delta is a large agricultural region of Vietnam, ensuring food security and supporting the country’s export potential. The possibility of effective agriculture requires accurate information on the groundwater state and assessment of both natural and anthropogenic factors that determine its chemical composition. The objective of the study was to investigate the dynamics of groundwater chemistry in the Mekong Delta during the 2022–2023 dry season. In total, 23 water samples were collected from the first aquifer in four provinces in November 2022 (the beginning of the dry season) and 23 samples in March–April 2023 (the end of dry season). The groundwater samples were analyzed for the content of major ions. The results of the study revealed that during the 2022–2023 dry season, groundwater from 8 key sites changed its hydrochemical type: from I to II and IV, from II to IV, from III to II and IV, from IV to I (according to the Piper diagram). The most significant change in the chemical composition occurred in fresh groundwater. The change of hydrochemical type can be caused by the use of irrigation water of different composition, the use of chemical plant protection products and fertilizers on agricultural lands, the dynamics of seawater intrusion, precipitation and wastewater discharge.

Full Text

Restricted Access

About the authors

M. V. Bolgov

Federal Scientific Centre of Agroecology, Complex Melioration and Protective Afforestation of the RAS

Email: balkushkin_r@vfanc.ru
Russian Federation, Universitetsky pr. 97, Volgograd, 400062

A. K. Kulik

Federal Scientific Centre of Agroecology, Complex Melioration and Protective Afforestation of the RAS

Email: balkushkin_r@vfanc.ru
Russian Federation, Universitetsky pr. 97, Volgograd, 400062

N. Т. Hiep

Joint Vietnam-Russia Tropical Science and Technology Research Center

Email: balkushkin_r@vfanc.ru

Southern Branch

Viet Nam, 3 st. 3/2, Dist. 10, Ho Chi Minh City

V. T. M. Chau

Joint Vietnam-Russia Tropical Science and Technology Research Center

Email: balkushkin_r@vfanc.ru

Southern Branch

Viet Nam, 3 st. 3/2, Dist. 10, Ho Chi Minh City

Т. T .L. Thu

Joint Vietnam-Russia Tropical Science and Technology Research Center

Email: balkushkin_r@vfanc.ru

Southern Branch

Viet Nam, 3 st. 3/2, Dist. 10, Ho Chi Minh City

R. N. Balkushkin

Federal Scientific Centre of Agroecology, Complex Melioration and Protective Afforestation of the RAS

Author for correspondence.
Email: balkushkin_r@vfanc.ru
Russian Federation, Universitetsky pr. 97, Volgograd, 400062

A. A. Vypritskiy

Federal Scientific Centre of Agroecology, Complex Melioration and Protective Afforestation of the RAS

Email: balkushkin_r@vfanc.ru
Russian Federation, Universitetsky pr. 97, Volgograd, 400062

A. A. Vasilchenko

Federal Scientific Centre of Agroecology, Complex Melioration and Protective Afforestation of the RAS

Email: balkushkin_r@vfanc.ru
Russian Federation, Universitetsky pr. 97, Volgograd, 400062

References

  1. Lam, V.H.K. [Age and formation conditions of water in the Upper and Lower Pliocene aquifers in the Mekong River delta by the data of isotope geochemical studies]. Cand. Sci. (Geol.-Min.) Diss., Moscow, 2022, 160 p. (in Russian)
  2. Maksimovich, G.A. [Chemical geography of terrestrial water]. Moscow, Geografgiz Publ., 1955, 328 p. (in Russian)
  3. N’ung, N.T.T. [Current state of salt intrusion in the Mekong River delta in Vietnam]. Vestnik NMS, 2020, no. 19, pp. 74–80. doi: 10.26897/2618-8732-2020-74-80 (in Russian)
  4. Perel’man, A.I., Kasimov, N.S. [Geochemistry of landscape]. Moscow, MSU Publ., 1999. 610 p. (in Russian)
  5. [PND F 14.1:2:3.99-97. Quantitative chemical analysis of water. Methodology for measuring the mass concentration of hydrocarbonates in samples of natural and waste water by the titrimetric method: approved on 22.06.2017 / developed by NPP Aquatest LLC]. Moscow, Federal Center for Analysis and Assessment of Technogenic Impact, 2017, 25 p. (in Russian)
  6. Rogozhina, N.G. [Environmental and social problems in the Mekong River Delta in Vietnam]. Vietnamskie issledovaniya, 2022, no. 2 (6), pp. 37–45. https://doi.org/10.54631/VS.2022.62-101585. (in Russian)
  7. [FR.1.31.2010.07463. MVI of mass concentration of dense, dry and calcined residue in wastewater (and/or liquid waste), in natural waters by the gravimetric method]. https://files.stroyinf.ru/Data2/1/4293812/4293812502.htm (in Russian)
  8. Chan, H.T. [Ecological and hydrological problems in the Mekong River Delta]. Vodnoe khozyaistvo Rossii: problem, tekhnologii, upravlenie. 2019, no. 1, pp. 24–39. https://doi.org/ 10.35567/1999-4508-2019-1-2 (in Russian)
  9. Bauer, J., Börsig, N., Pham, V., Hoan, T.V., Nguyen, H., Stefan, N. Geochemistry and evolution of groundwater resources in the context of salinization and freshening in the southernmost Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies, 2022, vol. 40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2022.101010
  10. Cramb, R. The evolution of rice farming in the Lower Mekong Basin. In: White gold: the commercialisation of rice farming in the Lower Mekong Basin. Palgrave Macmillan, 2020, pp. 3–37. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-0998-8_1
  11. Department of Competition and Consumer Protection cooperated with the Japan International Cooperation Agency to conduct a competition report in the field of urea production and trading in Vietnam. Ministry of Industry and Trade (Vietnam): https://moit.gov.vn/en
  12. Giao, N., Nhien, H., Phan, A., Thuptimdang, P. Groundwater quality assessment for drinking purposes: a case study in the Mekong Delta. Vietnam. Scientific Reports, 2023, vol.13, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-31621-9
  13. Giao, N., Phan, A., Nhien, H. Groundwater quality assessment using modified water quality index and associated human health risks in coastal regions of Vietnamese Mekong Delta. Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 2022, vol. 15. https://doi.org/ 10.1007/s12517-022-10906-9
  14. Gobre, T., Salve, P.R., Krupadam, R.J., Bansiwal, A., Shastry, S., Wate, S.R. Chemical composition of precipitation in the coastal environment of India. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 2010, vol. 85(1), 48–53. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-010-0006-0
  15. Statistical yearbook of Viet Nam 2022. In: General Statistics Office (GSO) of Viet Nam. https://www.gso.gov.vn/en/data-and-statistics/2023/06/statistical-yearbook-of-2022/
  16. Thanh, P.L., Tran, T.A. Highly hazardous pesticides in Vietnam: A situational analysis. Report. Research Centre for Rural Development, 2020, pp. 38.
  17. Tran, D.A., Tsujimura, M., Vo, L.P., Nguyen, V.T., Kambuku, D., Dang, T.D. Hydrogeochemical characteristics of a multi-layered coastal aquifer system in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 2019, vol. 42(2), pp. 661–680. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-019-00400-9
  18. Viet, P.H., Tuan, V.V., Hoai, P.M., Anh, N.T.K., Yen, P.T. Chemical composition and acidity of precipitations: a monitoring program in northeastern Vietnam. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, 2001, vol. 130(1/4), pp. 1499–1504. https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1013989703593

Supplementary files

Supplementary Files
Action
1. JATS XML
Download
2. Fig. 1. Location of key sites.

Download (717KB)
Indexing metadata
3. Fig. 2. Hydrochemical classification of groundwater in the Mekong Delta.

Download (751KB)
Indexing metadata
4. Fig. 3. Dynamics of the chemical composition of groundwater during the dry season 2022–2023: a — change in hydrochemical type; b — change in the ratio of main ions in %–eq.

Download (488KB)
Indexing metadata

Copyright (c) 2025 Russian academy of sciences