Community Pattaya Tests New Drainage System to Prepare for Future Flooding

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Sophon.

 

Pattaya City is ramping up its efforts to mitigate urban flooding ahead of the upcoming rainy season, with city officials testing the first phase of a major drainage system along the eastern railway road.

 

Led by Pattaya City Mayor Poramet Ngampichet, Deputy Mayor Manoch Nongyai, City Clerk Kiattisak Sriwongchai, and Director of Sanitation Engineering Anuwat Thongkham, the team inspected the progress of the drainage system currently under construction. The test took place at the Khao Noi pumping station, situated on the railway-side road between Khao Noi and Khao Talo on the route to Sattahip.

 

 

According to Mayor Poramet, the project represents a key strategy in resolving chronic flooding problems in Pattaya. The construction, while already underway, faced delays due to obstacles such as the high-speed railway viaduct. The system includes a 1.80-metre diameter high-pressure water pipeline spanning 2,500 metres, and a 2-metre drainage pipe running 3,000 metres. The objective is to collect and pump excess water from the Nong Prue Municipality area near Soi Khao Noi towards Khlong Suea Phaew and Khlong Naklua, thereby preventing inner-city areas like Sukhumvit Road, Pattaya South Junction, and Soi Bongkot from flooding.

 

The first phase features a pumping station with a 7,000-cubic metre holding capacity, equipped with six pumps capable of displacing 1 cubic metre of water per second. This phase is now fully operational.

 

Mayor Poramet outlined the city’s broader anti-flooding plan, which is divided into two phases. The second phase of the project, set slightly further along the same eastern railway road, involves constructing another pumping station with a 5,400-cubic metre capacity. This will be supported by four pumps, each handling 0.75 cubic metres per second, a 1.20-metre pressure pipe running 3,500 metres, and drainage pipes measuring between 1.60 and 2.20 metres in diameter over a 2,800-metre stretch. This phase is designed to divert water from Soi Khao Talo in the Nong Prue area to Khlong Huai Yai, protecting the railway road and Sukhumvit Road near the Pattaya South Junction.

 

The second phase is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. Once both phases are finished, city officials plan to evaluate the system’s effectiveness in preventing floodwaters from Nong Prue from inundating Pattaya’s inner city.

 

It is notable that Pattaya City has opted not to follow the extensive drainage strategy developed by the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning in collaboration with the National Water Resources Office (ONWR), which carries a price tag of 9.5 billion baht. Instead, the city has pursued a more localised and less invasive approach that avoids road excavation and minimises disruption to residents.

 

This marks a significant step in Pattaya’s long-term flood management efforts, aiming to provide lasting relief to residents and businesses frequently affected by seasonal downpours.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Spohon 2025-04-25.

 

 

 

[JoePai]

And the odds for flooding again this year are ***/1

[jacko45k]

Interesting.

So what we mean is they are standing around waiting for it to rain?

[Jim Blue]

Let's hope it's not full of  .......

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Interesting.

So what we mean is they are standing around waiting for it to rain?

Yep....

[Patong2021]

Will anybody think to  clean drains before the rains  start?

[Gsxrnz]

One cubic metre per second pumping capacity.

 

Even a moderate Pattaya shower of 10mm rainfall per hour dumps 10,000 cm3 on only one square kilometre.

 

That's 2.77cm3 per second.

 

It might clear the flood water quicker, but flood it will. 

 

 

[Unamerican]

It also probably will simply divert some of the flooding to the Klongs to the north and south of the city centre: thanks guys! ??
 

[sandyf]

1 hour ago, Gsxrnz said:

One cubic metre per second pumping capacity.

 

Even a moderate Pattaya shower of 10mm rainfall per hour dumps 10,000 cm3 on only one square kilometre.

 

That's 2.77cm3 per second.

 

It might clear the flood water quicker, but flood it will. 

 

 

The fundamental problem in Pattaya is that over the years they have only ever picked at the problem.

Over 15 years ago there was exactly the same problem in Mueang Chonburi with people waist deep in water running like a river.

The road down from the bypass to the centre is not unlike Pattaya Klang, heading down towards the sea. It is a bit wider and all along there they planted 2 metre square drains. There wasn't too much disruption, did it in the width of a lane. On the Klang it would mean one way or severe disruption with lights.

Not been any flooding in the city since, and they continued the work on the outskirts, most recent I've seen was alongside the road from Chonburi to to Bang Saen.

Problem can be resolved if the will to do so, different authorities, different approach.

 

[Ralf001]

Wonder how long until they dig up Soi Khao Noi again to replace the drainage pipes...... with the same size drainage pipes !

[Kinok Farang]

Lived on soi 7 Theprasit when they put the biggest storm drains (2 meters by 2 meters) in the road.You guessed it,after the first major deluge, the road flooded again.

[Andycoops]

All of it is a continual waste of taxpayer money because every attempt has ended in complete failure.

 

As sandyf has pointed out it can be done but there is no joined up strategy in Pattaya to solve most things, it's all knee jerk reaction.

[ross163103]

Just now, Kinok Farang said:

Lived on soi 7 Theprasit when they put the biggest storm drains (2 meters by 2 meters) in the road.You guessed it,after the first major deluge, the road flooded again.

 

I've always thought about this as thru the years I see them constantly putting in larger and larger pipes on different roads throughout the city. The problem is, if the water has nowhere to go after filling up the pipe this type of solution won't work. It just takes a little more time for the flooding to start as the pipes acts as a reservoir. Oh well, same same different day, TIT.