Measures tightened to guard against dam mishaps

By The Nation

 

FILE photo

 

Agriculture Minister Grisada Boonrach has instructed officials to more carefully monitor river basins throughout the rainy season to guard against flooding and to make sure reservoirs and dams are in sound condition to prevent overspills.

 

Royal Irrigation Department (RID) chief Thongplew Kongchan in response affirmed there was no danger of a dam collapsing in Thailand.

 

Urging the RID to promptly make any repairs needed, Grisada on Thursday asked for round-the-clock communication between its branch offices and the Smart Water Operations Centre (SWOC) during periods of heavy rain to ensure a rapid response to dam overspills and signs of damage.

 

Thongplew said he had instructed branch offices to check the structural stability of 1,600 reservoirs and dams beyond their routine inspections.

 

Thongplew was at Khun Dan Prakan Chon Dam in Nakhon Nayok’s Pak Phli district on Thursday and said it and 25 others had instruments monitoring seepage in real-time that would instantly alert operators to any abnormality.

 

Officials would begin patrolling the perimeter of dams more frequently than usual and promptly repair any damage found, he said.

With RID offices connected to the SWOC around the clock, decisions on water management would be timelier, Thongplew said.

 

Water levels at all dams are to be kept below the “rule curve”, he said – at no more than 70 per cent of capacity – so they’re ready to handle heavy rainfall.

 

If the water level rises beyond that point, water must be released in such a way that the impact on people downstream is minimised, he said.

 

If an impact cannot be avoided, the provincial governor must be informed to warn people to move belongings to higher ground.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30350857

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-07-26

13 minutes ago, webfact said:

Royal Irrigation Department (RID) chief Thongplew Kongchan in response affirmed there was no danger of a dam collapsing in Thailand.

 

That's it. I'm moving to higher ground.

I suppose they are speaking about Lao, and that was no mishap, it was a disaster 

16 hours ago, webfact said:

Royal Irrigation Department (RID) chief Thongplew Kongchan in response affirmed there was no danger of a dam collapsing in Thailand.

start  running  now then!!

16 hours ago, webfact said:

If an impact cannot be avoided, the provincial governor must be informed to warn people to move belongings to higher ground.

nice contradiction

RID ensures stability of nation's dams, close monitoring

 

 

BANGKOK, 27th July 2018 (NNT) – The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) has assured the Thai public that the nation’s dams are in good and stable condition and are constantly monitored by the Smart Water Operation Center (SWOC) working 24 hours a day. 

RID Director-General Dr Thongplew Kongchan says that all dams in the department’s care were strongly built as they were designed based on Thailand’s specific climate and conditions while also being able to withstand earthquakes up to 7 on the Richter scale.

 

He added the dams are under constant surveillance and undergo regular maintenance according to international standards. The RID head elaborated that in situations where the dams may overflow, provincial administrations are notified in writing so that citizens may be appropriately warned. 

Further ensuring their safety, the RID has been ordered by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives to set up round the clock checks on each dam's integrity and to establish multiple fail safes. The SWOC began operations on July 26 to intensify 24 hour monitoring of the dams. 

Addressing flooding spurred by continuing heavy rains in the north and northeast, the RID has installed water pumps to increase drainage and has already helped several areas return to normal. The water situation is being assessed at all times and regular reports are available to the public. The department has also provided water pumps and other equipment to agencies in need to reduce any conflicts while also holding regular forums with officials to properly prepare them for action. 

The nation’s large and medium sized dams currently hold a total 49.466 billion cubic meters of water, up to 65 percent of their capacity with 25.546 billion cubic meters, or 49 percent of the total, ready for use, up by 5.203 billion cubic meters last year. The dams are taking in an average 517.22 billion cubic meters of water each day and discharging 185.27 billion cubic meters on average. They can handle another 26.541 billion cubic meters of water each day.

 

-- nnt 2018-07-27

29 minutes ago, webfact said:

Smart Water Operation Center

Lucky it wasn´t Stupid Water Operation Center

33 minutes ago, webfact said:

RID ensures stability of nation's dams, close monitoring

 

When I see headlines like this, that is when I get truly frightened.

 

Pack up your house, the wife and kids, and the dog; disaster is a comin'

 

 

The only thing that scares me in this headline is that he says Operation Centre is working 24 hours per day. I must correct him on that. Thais people hate working 1 hour per day let alone 24. hours Maybe he was talking about dams in China Then I would be believe the 24 hour work schedule

Water levels at all dams are to be kept below the “rule curve”, he said – at no more than 70 per cent of capacity – so they’re ready to handle heavy rainfall.

 

However, only 2-3 days ago there was an article here about water storage saying that at least 3 of the major dams in Thailand had already reached 80% capacity. So does this mean the rule curve is out the window now?

2 hours ago, webfact said:

the dams are under constant surveillance and undergo regular maintenance according to international standards.

Thais couldn't maintain a gate.  Prices for secondhand farang cars are high precisely because we pay to have them serviced  regularly.

When these Clowns talk it's time to run !

7 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

 

When I see headlines like this, that is when I get truly frightened.

 

Pack up your house, the wife and kids, and the dog; disaster is a comin'

 

 

A clear message to keep a well inflated dinghy on the roof at all times!

"It's only a small crack.  Nothing is going to happen.  Here is one thousand baht.   Sign it off.  O.K.  Two thousand then."