Thailand taps groundwater resources as hot season drought looms

[webfact]

Workers work on a groundwater drilling machine in a tapioca plantation in Kanchanaburi province, Thailand, March 14, 2021. REUTERS/Prapan Chankaew

 

By Prapan Chankaew

 

YASOTHON, Thailand (Reuters) - Facing severe drought as it enters its hottest season, Thailand has launched groundwater extraction operations in its most arid regions to tap sources deep beneath the soil, as it looks at ways to harness future supplies.

 

The groundwater department has sent geologists and more than 80 teams to areas not served by irrigation networks and regions typically hit by shortages as dam water levels are depleted.

 

In northeast Yasothon province, solar-powered water pumps and tanks have been deployed in one of 25 groundwater stations, among some 937 underground wells in the region.

 

"The water source on the surface, when it dries up, the only source left is what is underneath us," Natural Resources and Environment Minister Varawut Silpa-Archa said during a visit.

 

"The amount of groundwater underneath Thailand has been tremendous," he said, estimating 10% to 15% of Thailand's more than 700 million litres (185 million gallons) of rainwater was beneath the ground.

 

Groundwater abstraction has been controversial in some countries, with concern about an over-reliance on underground sources instead of protecting and better managing water resources on the surface.

 

Some conservation groups say wildlife and flora are impacted by groundwater abstraction drying out lakes and wetlands while agriculture is consuming unsustainable amounts of water.

 

It can also cause aquifers to deplete and water tables to fall, while abstraction can cause land to sink, as has happened in and around the capital Bangkok.

 

Varawut said "every precaution" was being taken to prevent damage and sinkholes.

 

Despite efforts to convince farmers to cultivate crops that are less water-intensive, water demand for agriculture keeps growing. To try to harness future supplies, authorities are studying whether to develop hundreds more groundwater resources.

 

Organic fruit farmer La Somabutr said there were few trees left to hold water and wells dried up in March and April, so the groundwater drilling had been a game-changer.

 

"It's badly dry here," he said. "Now we have this groundwater. I feel like I'm reborn." 

 

(Reporting by Prapan Chankaew; Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by Karishma Singh)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-04-01

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

[darksidedog]

All well and good in the short term. As has been discovered elsewhere though, it takes a very long time for artesian basins to fill but they can be tapped out quite quickly and the situation then is significantly worse than before. Good water management is a far better policy.

[RichardColeman]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand has launched groundwater extraction operations in its most arid regions to tap sources deep beneath the soil, as it looks at ways to harness future supplies.

Let's hope they do not disturb the sandworms

[Geoffggi]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

Varawut said "every precaution" was being taken to prevent damage and sinkholes.

Hmmmm!! Call me a cynic if you so wish .............LOL 

[Burma Bill]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

to tap sources deep beneath the soil, as it looks at ways to harness future supplies.

 

[hotchilli]

7 hours ago, darksidedog said:

All well and good in the short term. As has been discovered elsewhere though, it takes a very long time for artesian basins to fill but they can be tapped out quite quickly and the situation then is significantly worse than before. Good water management is a far better policy.

Something Thailand doesn't have.

[RocketDog]

A long term problem with well water, especially from deep wells is the mineral content. Over time using this water the soil will become poisoned by excessive salts and unusable for agriculture. 

 

But, hey, we'll worry about that after it happens. Until then full speed ahead. 

[GreasyFingers]

31 minutes ago, Burma Bill said:

 

We always used a heavy gauge fencing wire but have not been able to find any in Thailand. It can work if you know what you are doing.

[Artisi]

Does it sound like the usual mismanaged approach to an ongoing established known problem, horse /stable /door comes to mind. 

 

would it be smart to drill, install and develop ground water supplies well before the urgent need arrived, nah! no need we have it all under control.