Scientists from the DTU Faculty of Environmental and Chemical Engineering conducted a field survey to assess the erosion of the Thu Bon riverbank and investigate the causes.
Fertile alluvial land in the Duy Xuyen and Dien Ban districts of Quang Nam province, once the livelihood of the local farmers along the Thu Bon, has been affected by severe riverbank erosion because companies have been extracting massive amounts of sand from the river in this area and the locals are asking questions about it, which instigated the survey.
A sand mining boat (above) and sand extraction boat (below)
The survey showed that the stretch of the riverbank flowing through the two communes is suffering from severe erosion. The course of the river has changed and the riverbanks have collapsed, leaving mounds three to five meters high. The river is now usually dry at these locations, although but water level nearby is now very deep, between five to ten meters. This has caused riverbanks to slip away down the river. The situation is getting worse because these areas are frequented by sand mining boats, which have caused the river to dry up because of sediment extraction.
“Inspecting the Thu Bon riverbank subsidence in Dien Quang and Dien Trung, we found that the direct cause of the landslides was large-scale sand mining in the area,” explained Dr. Nguyen Thi Minh Phuong, Dean of the DTU Faculty of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, who took part in the survey. “Based on my knowledge of the Thu Bon river basin, we should also consider other potential causes. A large-scale hydroelectric complex is under development in the Thu Bon headwaters and research shows that it already blocks the flow, eliminating sediment flow to the lower sections of the river, so this may be an indirect cause.”
Dr. Nguyen Thi Minh Phuong (left) with his team of researchers
On November 3, the Dien Ban People’s Committee decided to set up the Dien Ban Interbranch Minerals Control Station, led by the Dien Ban police, who quickly and decisively stopped the illegal mining in the Dien Ban commune. However, four companies still hold official mining permits and the situation remains complex.
The DTU Faculty of Environmental and Chemical Engineering scientists have devoted their lives to environmental protection, combining lecturing and research and applying their knowledge and experience to solving large environmental problems that plague society today. Our research has led to successful results in:
- Domestic waste management
- Textile dye wastewater treatment
- Aquaculture wastewater treatment
- Maritime environmental quality assessment, after the Formosa pollution incident
- Advising the Danang authorities on public issues, such as landslides, coastal erosion and saltwater intrusion
(Media Center)