Expanding household water storage for domestic and agricultural use in the coastal Mekong Delta
The UNDP-AFCIA program introduced household-scale water storage in Trà Vinh, Bến Tre, and Sóc Trăng, combining efficient irrigation, domestic-water filtration and disinfection, and training to help residents cope with drought and saltwater intrusion.
- Timeline
- 2023–2024
- Location
- Trà Vinh · Bến Tre · Sóc Trăng
- Status
- Completed
Partners
The context
Household water storage helps communities prepare for drought and saltwater intrusion.
Drought and saltwater intrusion make daily life and farming difficult for many coastal Mekong Delta households. Freshwater may be scarce just when crops need irrigation or families need to build reserves, while large water-supply systems do not always reach dispersed communities.
A UNDP-supported program brought household-scale storage solutions to Trà Vinh, Bến Tre, and Sóc Trăng. The agricultural strand pairs water-storage bags with efficient irrigation; the domestic strand combines tanks, filtration, and ultraviolet (UV) disinfection. Training helps residents use and maintain the systems and manage stored water effectively.
In the agricultural strand, the project also reused plastic sheeting from shrimp ponds as material for storage systems. This addresses dry-season water needs while extending the life of a material that is difficult to dispose of after use.
Results
62 water-storage systems for homes and farms, alongside community training.
Storage-bag and irrigation systems for agricultural production.
Tank, filtration, and UV-disinfection systems for domestic water.
Training courses on adaptive farming, water storage, and dry-season water treatment.
Plastic sheeting recovered from shrimp ponds and reused in agricultural water-storage systems.
Designed for each need
Two water-storage configurations for two different uses.
| Criteria | Agriculture | Domestic use |
|---|---|---|
| Storage method | Household-scale water-storage bag or reservoir, potentially using suitable recycled plastic pond sheeting. | A water tank at the household. |
| Associated system | Efficient or automated irrigation to make better use of stored water. | Multistage filtration and UV disinfection before the water is used. |
| Intended use | Maintaining irrigation water during drought or when surface water becomes saline. | Providing treated stored water for domestic household needs. |
| Skills to transfer | Managing irrigation schedules and maintaining storage bags or reservoirs and irrigation equipment. | Operating the tank, cleaning filters, and monitoring consumables and the UV lamp. |
After installation
Expanding the model through skills, materials, and local capacity.
Training alongside equipment — Courses on water storage, treatment, and use help residents operate and maintain their systems after handover.
- 01
Training alongside equipment
Courses on water storage, treatment, and use help residents operate and maintain their systems after handover.
- 02
Reusing materials
Plastic sheeting recovered from shrimp ponds is used in agricultural storage systems, reducing waste and adding value.
- 03
Working with local partners
Technical agencies and local authorities take part in implementation, helping experience and models continue beyond the program.