Preserving water heritage

From rising flood seasons to rivers running dry, water resources are posing a critical problem for sustainable development. In a conversation with VAN News, Prof. Dr. Pham Quy Nhan, an expert on water resources and former Vice Rector of Hanoi University of Natural Resources and Environment, shared his perspectives on the laws of water, conflicts in water exploitation, and the message that humanity must heed from nature to safeguard water resources for the future.

Listening to the flow: Philosophy of water resource professionals

March marks the celebration of World Water Day (March 22) and also falls in spring, the season that heralds the beginning of a new year. When looking at rivers or spring rains during this time, what thoughts come to your mind most often?

Every spring, when I watch a river quietly flowing or see the first raindrops of the year fall onto the earth, I am reminded of the two sides of water. Water is the source of life, the foundation of livelihoods, and a driving force for socio-economic development. Yet water also carries challenges, from floods and droughts to pollution and conflicts of interest.

For those working in the field of water resources, the most important thing is not to “conquer” water but to understand and respect its laws. We must learn to listen to and comprehend natural flows to manage, utilize, and protect water resources in a sustainable way. When humans interact harmoniously with water, water will nurture and protect us.

What does the principle “water flows to the sea and returns as rain to its source” mean in the context where water security is becoming increasingly important, sir?

For water resource managers, this is the enduring cycle of nature. Water travels far and eventually returns, forming a closed loop that sustains life. From a scientific perspective, it is the hydrological cycle, the continuous movement of water among the oceans, the atmosphere, the land, and the biosphere. However, on a deeper level, it symbolizes a harmonious ecosystem in which every component is interconnected and interdependent.

If one link in this cycle is broken, such as forest degradation, polluted water sources, or overexploitation, the balance will be disrupted. As a result, droughts, floods, and environmental degradation will intensify, and ultimately humans themselves will suffer the direct impacts. The water cycle is inherently harmonious, yet even a small deviation can distort the entire system.

Harmonizing interests: A difficult but mandatory problem

In your view, are conflicts over water resources among hydropower, agriculture, urban areas, and the environment increasingly requiring harmonized solutions to ensure water security?

In practice, conflicts of interest among water-using sectors are inevitable, particularly in reservoir operations. Previously, each work often prioritized its own objective, such as power generation, irrigation, or urban water supply. As a result, heavy rainfall could lead to overlapping flood releases, while the dry season often brought water shortages for downstream areas.

When we shift to a river-basin–based management approach and operate multiple reservoirs synchronously, balancing power generation, water supply, flood prevention, and environmental protection, the benefits become evident: reduced flooding, less drought, and greater livelihood security for local communities.

A typical example was the risk to Thac Ba Reservoir during Typhoon Yagi in 2025. Prolonged heavy rainfall caused the reservoir’s water level to rise close to its design threshold. Authorities proactively developed response plans, coordinating upstream water control, hydrometeorological data, and population relocation. The story demonstrated that only through inter-agency coordination and by acting in accordance with natural laws can risks be minimized.

Currently, under the National Science and Technology Program on Water Security for the 2021–2030 period, we are also conducting research to develop a toolkit for managing the water–energy–food–environment nexus in the Red–Thai Binh river basin, following the WEFE Nexus approach. The objective is to support decision-making that harmonizes sectoral interests, aiming for long-term sustainable development.

Climate change is making the laws of water increasingly unpredictable. In that context, is harmony still an option, sir?

Under conditions in which climate change is making rainfall and floods more extreme, droughts more prolonged, and river flows harder to predict, harmony is no longer an option but an imperative. If we fail to balance exploitation and protection, as well as short-term and long-term interests, we will pay the price through water shortages, flooding, and environmental degradation. Water and the environment are no longer issues of a single sector or locality; they are a shared responsibility of the entire nation and the international community.

The most crucial thing now is to move from awareness to action, from sectoral management to integrated management, and from local thinking to an interdisciplinary approach. Only then can we effectively adapt to the increasingly unpredictable impacts of climate change.

Listening to the voice of water to preserve balance for the future

If water resources were likened to a gift passed on to future generations, in what condition do you think we are handing over that gift?

We often speak of “Dat Nuoc” (the country), where water has always gone hand in hand with land as a fundamental source of life. Water is a heritage passed down by our ancestors to future generations. However, if we look honestly at reality, this heritage is suffering significant damage, including rising pollution, more extreme floods, droughts, and domestic water shortages in many places.

If we do not protect it from now on, the gift will no longer remain intact. Our responsibility today is not only to exploit water resources but also to restore and preserve them so that future generations inherit water resources that are better, not worse.

March is a time when water resources are honored and the message of protecting them for the future is widely shared. If you could convey a message from “water” to humanity today, what would it be?

I think the message of water is very simple: “Listen to me.” Listen to the laws of nature, and listen to the warnings from floods, droughts, and pollution. When humanity listens to the voice of water, we will find a path toward more harmonious and sustainable development. After all, preserving the balance of water is also preserving the balance of our own future.

Sincerely thank you, sir!