Salination of surface water, groundwater, and soils in the shrimp farming areas of the coastal Cai Nuoc district, South Vietnam

This paper investigates the link between shrimp farming development and salination processes in the coastal Cai Nuoc district of Ca Mau province, Mekong delta, Vietnam. Surface water, groundwater, and soils were sampled for four consecutive seasons (2002–2004). Salinity in the surface water (40.04–44.78 ‰) was, during the dry season, higher than that of the oceans and remained high during the wet season (more than 8‰). Soils were highly affected by salinity (EC(1/5) 4.57 dS/m), even during the wet season (EC(1/5) 3.78–3.90 dS/m). Salinity levels in both surface water and soils were regulated by seasonal rainfall patterns. The groundwater seemed to be unaffected by shrimp farming development though its salinity level (1.04‰) was higher than the normal values acceptable for human consumption. As a result of shrimp farming development, soil and water salination is currently a serious environmental issue in the Cái Nước district.