Water shortages strike two districts in Prachuap Khiri Khan

[snoop1130]

 

Prachuap Khiri Khan is hit by water shortages as two districts plunge into a state of emergency due to an unprecedented drought crisis.

 

With acute water shortages ravaging communities, authorities issue a desperate plea for aid and conservation efforts.

 

Acting Deputy Governor Kittiphong Sukhapakul officially declared drought disaster zones in two districts of Prachuap Khiri Khan on Monday. This decisive action targets areas grappling with severe water shortages, sounding the alarm for urgent assistance and conservation measures across the province.

 

The declaration zones in two districts, encompassing 11 sub-districts and 79 villages. Pranburi District, bearing the brunt of the crisis, is besieged by water scarcity in five sub-districts and 19 villages. Similarly, Thap Sakae District faces a dire situation with six sub-districts and 60 villages now classified as drought disaster zones.

 

This declaration sets in motion a coordinated response from governmental agencies, rallying to provide immediate relief to affected residents. Efforts will concentrate on ensuring access to drinking water and compensating for agricultural losses according to Ministry of Finance guidelines.

 

Urging residents to report water shortages to local authorities, officials aim to streamline aid distribution and resource allocation efficiently. This collective endeavour seeks to alleviate community hardships and stave off further damage as the province grapples with the drought’s wrath.

 

This grim development follows earlier warnings in February, foretelling a harsh dry season ahead. A significant drop in rainfall during the previous wet season has left the region parched, recording a 50% decline compared to the five-year average. As of February 5, primary reservoirs hold a mere 35% of their total capacity, marking a stark decrease from the previous year’s 60%, reported Hua Hin Today.

 

With mitigation efforts underway, plans are in motion to ensure equitable water distribution and encourage water-saving practices among citizens, particularly farmers, to avert devastating crop losses.

 

In related news, farmers in the district of Phimai, Nakhon Ratchasima province, faced a severe drought that has swiftly dried up the Mun River.

 

By Puntid Tantivangphaisal

Caption: Aerial view of the Prachuap town seafront, Kao Lom Muak mountain and Prachuap bay in Prachuap Khiri Khan province of Thailand

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-03-21

 

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[billd766]

Yet the government and TAT have extended the Songkran period and millions and millions of litres will just pour down the drains across Thailand and be wasted, just so that a very few rich people will get even richer. 

[hotchilli]

11 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Acting Deputy Governor Kittiphong Sukhapakul officially declared drought disaster zones in two districts of Prachuap Khiri Khan on Monday. This decisive action targets areas grappling with severe water shortages, sounding the alarm for urgent assistance and conservation measures across the province.

A tad late one might say, they must have been aware of the low water levels for sometime... but what did they do?

I guess they'll push ahead with Songkran next month...

Edited March 22 by hotchilli

[Ombra]

Here in Thap Sakae this morning, we had government water flowing through the pipes for the first time in three weeks, and we have been buying water during that period. Our garden is brown and some trees are dying. For me, this is a disappointment, but for farmers and local people who grow fruit and vegetables to supplement their incomes it is a tragedy. Last year, rain fell only during October and this problem was predictable, but the authorities seem incapable of planning. They encourage foreign tourists to come while the water table gets lower each year.

[billd766]

5 hours ago, Ombra said:

Here in Thap Sakae this morning, we had government water flowing through the pipes for the first time in three weeks, and we have been buying water during that period. Our garden is brown and some trees are dying. For me, this is a disappointment, but for farmers and local people who grow fruit and vegetables to supplement their incomes it is a tragedy. Last year, rain fell only during October and this problem was predictable, but the authorities seem incapable of planning. They encourage foreign tourists to come while the water table gets lower each year.

I am happy to hear that the government water has started flowing again. We used to buy water every year, but luckily about 3 years ago  our group of villages got connected to the big village supply pipeline. Granted that during the day the government supply is cut off, but it does flow at night, so every bodies ongs are usually refilled over night.

 

many years ago my wife enquired about a borehole, but we have about a metre or so of soil and then it is an extreme hard rock, perhaps granite or something similar that will need a diamond tipped drill to bore the hole and I have no idea how deep they would need to drill to find water in enough quantity to be viable.

[Ombra]

4 hours ago, billd766 said:

I am happy to hear that the government water has started flowing again. We used to buy water every year, but luckily about 3 years ago  our group of villages got connected to the big village supply pipeline. Granted that during the day the government supply is cut off, but it does flow at night, so every bodies ongs are usually refilled over night.

 

many years ago my wife enquired about a borehole, but we have about a metre or so of soil and then it is an extreme hard rock, perhaps granite or something similar that will need a diamond tipped drill to bore the hole and I have no idea how deep they would need to drill to find water in enough quantity to be viable.

The water was only flowing early this morning, but it filled our tanks. I hope that it will resume overnight because there is no rain on the long-range weather forecast.

[billd766]

On 3/22/2024 at 8:03 AM, hotchilli said:

A tad late one might say, they must have been aware of the low water levels for sometime... but what did they do?

I guess they'll push ahead with Songkran next month...

Unfortunately 

, if nature does not provide enough rain there is not a lot that anyone can do. cloud seeding is fine in the very short term, but it IS only short term. Digging and clearing the silt and deepening the dams is a help and will provide more storage if and when the wet season finally arrives.

 

Trying to change to different crops that use less water might help, but the majority of farmers are deep in debt, so who will pay for the cost of different crops and guarantee the crop prices? That assumes that new crops can be sown and thrive on soil that has been fertilised for generations for a single crop.

 

The government could/should take advice and learn from other countries, but that would involve a major loss of 'face'.

 

There is always desalination, but desalination is expensive, the plants need to be on the coastline, and then they will need to pump the water hundreds of km to where it is needed most, and then store it somewhere that leakage and evaporation does not affect the water loss so much. 

[OldmanJ]

The Thai government should think about the consequences before acting,we have a severe water shortage but some brainless people think it's OK for Songkran to proceed.Try and explain the common sense in that please Thai government 

[billd766]

This morning here in rural Kamphaeng Phet we had a couple of 10 minute rain showers, enough to wet the concrete and leave a couple of small puddles. The first rain since 22nd March when we had 0.2mm rain.

 

So far this year in the village we have had 19mm of rain since 1st January 2024. We are luckier than a lot of rural villages who have had less rain than us this year.

 

And still this stupid government is going ahead with wasting billions of litres of water, again this year, on their poncy version of Songkran. 

 

Next month, they will be bleating about the drought.

Edited April 10 by billd766
corrected some bad spelling