USAID’s Vietnam Forests and Deltas (VFD) Program, in collaboration with the Southern Institute for Water Resources Research and provincial departments, completed a comprehensive analysis of more than 500 ponds in Long An. In the 1990s, Long An province excavated large areas that were used to build up settlement areas in higher elevations to avoid flooding. The excavated areas soon filled with water and have stood as a largely untapped water resource, as most of the ponds are contaminated with heavy metals, highly acidic, and/or have high salinity. This month, 50 participants from relevant provincial  and district departments, along with centers for management of water resources, discussed the findings and recommendations for using water from ponds for daily consumption, aquaculture, and agriculture production. Based on the study, a pilot upgraded water supply system is planned for 700 households in Nhon Hoa commune, Tan Thanh district. Given that shortage of clean water is a significant problem in Long An, this study helps decision makers in planning and managing water resources within the context of climate change and related salinity intrusion.