1.3 - Mekong

Question 1

What has been released from the Lanping Lead-Zinc mine affecting the Irrawaddy dolphins?

Answer 1

Mercury and Arsenic

Question 2

What are water lyacinths as a result of?

Answer 2

Pesticide run-off causing algal blooms

Question 3

What has the building of the Manwan Dam caused?

Answer 3

Reduced alluvium deposits from 45mt to 38mt

Question 4

What factors have caused devastating floods?

Answer 4

1) sandbars and rocks have been removed to allow ferries up the river
2) 90% of Vietnamese forest has been cut down causing run-off

Question 5

What is the transboundary issue?

Answer 5

The low quality of the water gets passed down to other parts

Question 6

What has made it hard for Phnom Penh to get fresh drinking water?

Answer 6

Reduction in Mekong river flow into Ton le Sap lake

Question 7

How much will the Xayaburi dam cost?

Answer 7

$3.5 billion and is being built by Ch. Karnchang, a Thai

construction company, and financed by Thailand’s four largest banks.

Question 8

What are the environmental effects of building the dams?

Answer 8

1) Urban sewage affecting water quality causing cultural eutrophication
2) Threatening Mekong giant catfish

Question 9

Why does China need so much water?

Answer 9

Because it is rapidly industrialising which reduces the quantity of water and impacts the quality of it negatively

Question 10

What production levels have fallen in Cuulong Delta, Vietnam

Answer 10

Shrimp and Carp causing problems for fishermen