Water crisis grapples Koh Samui as rising tourist demands amplify freshwater shortage

[webfact]

 

Koh Samui, a popular tourist resort island in Surat Thani province, is grappling with a significant water crisis as declining rainfall and amplified water demands take their toll.

 

Many of the water reserves on the island, such as the district’s Phru Na Muang and Phru Krajud reservoirs, along with the renowned Hin Lard waterfall, have seen their water levels drop significantly, indicative of a severe water crisis. This dip has disrupted clean water production, as the total volume of freshwater available continues to dwindle.

 

Presently, amid the ongoing water crisis, the island’s local freshwater reserves are deemed to be sufficient for the needs of its residents for just a mere 30 days. The scarcity has also started wreaking havoc on the region’s thriving tourism industry.

According to Ratchaporn Poonsawat, the chair of the Tourism Association of Koh Samui, the escalating dearth might force the hand of tourism business owners to buy freshwater, resulting in a surge in operation costs.

 

“The mounting costs associated with the shortage could also adversely affect the livelihood of hospitality workers on the island. If water supplies continue to deplete, these hard-working individuals might be forced to bear higher living costs,” he explained.

 

by Mitch Connor

Photo Courtesy of digitalnomads.world

 

#news

Full story: https://thethaiger.com/news/national/koh-samui-grapples-with-freshwater-shortage-amid-rising-tourist-demands

 

-- © Copyright Thaiger 2023-07-03

 

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[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Koh Samui, a popular tourist resort island in Surat Thani province, is grappling with a significant water crisis as declining rainfall and amplified water demands take their toll.

The result of no infrastructure planning, flood the island with tourists, take the cash and put nothing back in.

[cracker1]

Perhaps the resorts should be flushing the toilets with sea water ?

[robertson468]

This is not the first time that Koh Samui has run short of water and the local government have been rationing it for quite a long time.  This should have been identified many years ago and steps taken to ensure adequate supply.  Sadly Thailand is the land of lack of planning.

[aseanfan]

Same same 20 years ago when I lived there.  Then I remember a desalination plant being installed.  Plenty of other alternative water creation technologies available too.  How many residences do the basics of storing rain water?

[billd766]

11 hours ago, cracker1 said:

Perhaps the resorts should be flushing the toilets with sea water ?

How would they get the seawater to the toilets and where would the waste toilet water be dumped?

 

Back into the sea perhaps?

[stoner]

11 hours ago, billd766 said:

 

Back into the sea perhaps?

is that not par for the course here ?