According to a study of the Geo-Informatics Center of the Ho Chi Minh City National University of Software, the area in Ho Chi Minh City is currently sinking partially locally with an average speed of less than 1cm per year.

From a few spots in the area are deformed subsidence, after 20 years ground subsidence has spread throughout HCMC, bad impact on infrastructure and people's lives. This is also the cause of lowering the national elevation in the area, affecting the foundation of the construction, design and construction of flood protection works.

In fact, not only Ho Chi Minh City, in Hanoi, this risk has also been warned - although the warning level is lower. Cause is indicated, because of groundwater extraction.

Analysis of experts in HCM City said that in the process of urbanization, new districts and industrial parks use underground water as the main source of water. The surface concretion during construction has increased the surface area impermeable, preventing the process of permeation from top to bottom of the aquifer. Results from other studies show that the rate of urban concreting and excessive groundwater extraction has reduced the average groundwater level by 2 meters per year.

From 1992 up to now, many areas in 17 districts in Ho Chi Minh City has been sinking from 20 - 30cm, many places near the large construction of this time to settle down to 50cm. This explains why more and more areas in Ho Chi Minh City are flooded locally when the tide is high.

According to experts, the ground cover the majority of the house from 5 floors (low floor) with shallow foundation, the natural base on the weak clay crust of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. This layer has a thickness of 8 to 15m from the ground, which is supported by groundwater with the thrust of the Uighur. Nowadays, the underground water absorbs much, causing the height of the groundwater to be lowered, losing the support force, making the settlement a natural law. To put it bluntly, the low rise building is on a "submerged raft".

In addition, the loss of rivers and lakes in the old cities and the overloading of overlapping high-rise buildings in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are causing the old urban areas to fall into the status quo. Overloaded severely.

Many scientists have warned about concussion. But not when their criticism also "ear" the leader. And consequently, after a heavy rain, Hanoi became a river. The tide is increasingly flooding Ho Chi Minh City flood.

It is time to take into account the negative effects of over-development in the urban core. In particular, it is necessary to restore and protect natural landscape areas (lakes, lands, etc.) in order to "return" to the soil part of the groundwater that human beings have taken.

The loading of cities, the exploitation of the same resource in the ground ... these have been causing bad consequences for the cities themselves - it is inundation, pollution, quality of life deteriorated. vinegar.

Back Go top

News other