Decree No. 23/2026/NĐ-CP: Amending and supplementing several provisions of decrees in the field of water resources, effective as of January 17, 2026.
At Article 1 of this Decree No. 23, the content is specified as follows:
“Article 1. Amending and supplementing a number of articles of Decree No. 53/2024/NĐ-CP dated May 16, 2024 of the Government detailing the implementation of several articles of the Law on Water Resources.”
In which, the amended contents related to water resources monitoring activities are detailed as follows between the two Decrees:
(Note: Amending and supplementing several points, clauses, and articles from Articles 85–91 of Decree 53)
Decree No. 23/2026/NĐ-CP Decree No. 53/2024/NĐ-CP
Amendment Table
Item 34. Amending Point b, Clause 3, Article 85
“b) For groundwater resource monitoring stations: monitoring frequency is 06 days/time (dry season), 03 days/time (rainy season) for manual measurement devices; frequency is 02 hours/time for automatic and online measurement devices.”
b) For groundwater monitoring stations: frequency is 03 days/time (dry season), 06 days/time (rainy season) for manual measurement devices; frequency is 02 hours/time for automatic and online measurement devices.
Item 35. Adding Clause 5 after Clause 4, Article 87
“5. In case monitoring data is interrupted, the following shall apply:
a) If online monitoring data is interrupted due to maintenance, inspection, calibration, replacement of components, repair, or replacement of measuring devices, measures must be taken to conduct monitoring and store data under periodic monitoring mode, and fully update information and data to the National Water Resources Information System and Database. If water quality monitoring data under Point a and Point b, Clause 2, Article 88 is interrupted, monitoring must be conducted once every 03 days and fully updated into the national database. At the same time, it is required to report to the specialized water resources agency under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment for projects under the licensing authority of the Ministry, or to the Department of Agriculture and Environment for projects under provincial licensing authority, clearly stating the maintenance, inspection, calibration, replacement, and repair plan. The implementation period must not exceed 60 days;
b) If data transmission is interrupted for other reasons, immediately after the system resumes normal operation, all missing data must be retransmitted. If interruption lasts continuously more than 72 hours, the system operator must issue a written notice stating the cause and corrective measures to the receiving authority.”
Article 87 has no Clause 5.
Item 36. Amending Article 88
(Title remains)
“Article 88. Parameters, indicators, and monitoring regime for supervising water resource exploitation for clean water supply for domestic use…”
[The remainder of Article 88 describes detailed monitoring requirements for surface water and groundwater abstraction systems, including flow, water level, quality parameters such as temperature, pH, DO, TSS, COD, NH4, TDS, NO3, monitoring frequency, data reporting requirements, and system integration with national databases.]
Item 37. Amending Article 89
“Article 89. Parameters, indicators, and monitoring regime for supervising reservoirs for hydropower generation…”
Key provisions include:
- Monitoring parameters: reservoir water level, environmental flow discharge, plant discharge flow, spillway discharge, inflow
- Monitoring methods: automatic online monitoring and periodic measurement
- Monitoring frequency: every 15 minutes for real-time data; periodic data updated to national system
Item 38. Amending Article 90
“Article 90. Monitoring parameters and regime for irrigation reservoirs, aquaculture, and other purposes…”
Includes:
- Reservoir water level
- Discharge flow
- Water quality during operation
- Inflow
- Monitoring methods and frequency depending on reservoir size
- Data update requirements to national water database
Item 39. Amending Point a, Clause 1, Article 91
“a) Water abstraction flow for purposes (if any)”
**Article 91. Monitoring regime for water intake structures such as pumps, gates, and other surface water abstraction works…”
Item 40. Amending Article 92
“Article 92. Monitoring parameters and regime for groundwater abstraction works…”
Includes:
- Total abstraction flow
- Water level in wells
- Water quality monitoring
- Requirement for monitoring wells depending on capacity thresholds (e.g., ≥3,000 m³/day)
- Monitoring frequency from 1 hour to 24 hours depending on system type
- Data upload requirements to national water resource database
See full details of Decree:
Decree No. 23/2026/NĐ-CP_FULL
Decree No. 53/2024/NĐ-CP_FULL
