Accelerating construction on the Dan Kia Reservoir dredging project
Construction units are accelerating work on the Dan Kia Reservoir dredging project following years of severe sediment buildup that has reduced the reservoir’s storage capacity and affected the water supply to Da Lat and Lac Duong.
With a total investment of 190 billion VND, the project is expected to restore reservoir capacity, improve water quality and ensure long-term water supply security for the region.
Construction work intensified before rainy season
These days, the atmosphere at the construction site remains busy as dozens of dump trucks, excavators and transport vehicles operate continuously to speed up dredging work, service road construction and sediment transportation.
The project is managed by the Lac Duong Regional Construction Investment Project Management Board and is scheduled for completion within 24 months.
According to reporters at the site, contractors are simultaneously implementing several major components of the project. Multiple service roads along the reservoir have been expanded to improve access and facilitate the transportation of dredged sediment.
Tran Xuan Cuong, deputy director of the Lac Duong Regional Construction Investment Project Management Board, said that after two months of construction, approximately 46 billion VND has been advanced and disbursed, with total project disbursement reaching about 5%.
According to Cuong, the most important task at this stage is to accelerate dredging work while weather conditions remain favorable ahead of the rainy season.
“The ultimate goal is to put the project into operation as soon as possible, contributing to a stable clean water supply for residents in Da Lat and Lac Duong,” Cuong emphasized.
Under the project design, the dredging area covers approximately 65 hectares within the Da Deung stream watershed upstream of Dan Kia Reservoir.
In addition to dredging work, the project includes the installation of a 340-meter floating waste barrier system aimed at preventing trash and pollutants from flowing into the reservoir from upstream areas.
The project also involves the construction of waste collection roads, waste gathering areas and transport routes serving construction operations.
Restoring reservoir capacity and ensuring water security
Dan Kia Reservoir was built between 1942 and 1945 and serves as a multi-purpose water resource project for Da Lat and Lac Duong. The reservoir provides domestic water, agricultural irrigation, hydropower supply and tourism support for the region.
However, after many years without comprehensive dredging, sediment accumulation in upstream areas has significantly reduced the reservoir’s storage capacity.
According to authorities, the reservoir currently holds about 12 million cubic meters of water, compared with its original design capacity of 20 million cubic meters.
In recent years, water levels during the peak dry season have repeatedly dropped to record lows, nearly two meters lower than previous years, directly affecting domestic water supply and irrigation downstream.
As demand for water in Da Lat and Lac Duong continues to increase, the dredging project is considered an urgent solution to ensure long-term water security for the region.
Construction units are currently taking advantage of favorable weather conditions to speed up progress, increase work shifts and mobilize additional machinery to improve productivity.
Once completed, the project is expected to restore the reservoir's storage capacity, improve water quality, reduce environmental pollution and provide a more stable water supply for residents in Da Lat and Lac Duong.
