Pattaya Water Shortage Crisis

[george]

Urgent meeting held to combat water shortage crisis

PATTAYA: -- Advisor to the Prime Minister Sontaya Khunplome has held an urgent meeting with the governor of Chonburi province and concerned departments about the water shortage problem, and what the short and long term solutions will be.

The meeting, held on April 4 at the Thai Rak Thai Coordination Centre in Bang Saen, included the members of parliament for six zones in Chonburi. Along with Governor Pisit Ketphasook were Chonburi Chief Executive Pinyo Tanwiset, and representatives of the Chonburi Provincial Irrigation Project, the Provincial Waterworks Authority, the Water Resources Department, the Natural Resources and Environment Department of Chonburi, and East Water Co Ltd.

Sontaya said that the volume of water from natural water resources is lower because the rainfall in 2004 was less than average. Therefore residents in the districts of Panatnikhom, Panthong, Sriracha and Pattaya lack sufficient water. There are also 1.3 million rai of agricultural land in Chonburi that lack water and consequently have lower product yields. If this situation continues, it will affect the economy and future tourism development, along with the industrial area at Laem Chabang Port.

The situation has already been reported to the prime minister, resulting in the meeting being held with related departments for a solution to submit for budget authorization.

Bunsom Yutithampinyo, chief of the Chonburi Provincial Irrigation Project, said that only 20 percent of water from rainfall in 2004 could be collected. Therefore Chonburi had to use the previous year’s water, from 2003. Pattaya City normally uses water at the rate of about 43 million m3 per year, but the water in five reservoirs, namely Nongklangdong, Huaysaphan, Huay Khunchit, Mabprachan and Sarknork only have 40 – 60 percent of water compared to last year. In the past water was produced at 36,000 m3 per day, but they have had to reduce the volume of production to 22,000 m2 per day since December.

Because of the effect this has on the population in general, and on business, the meeting suggested the solution of increasing the volume of water back to its original level by buying additional water at 12,000 m3 per day from Thung Kraud of East Water Co Ltd. However, another problem is that the water pipes form a bottleneck, which creates an obstacle for water pressure.

The problem can be reduced for a while because there is an arrangement to add water from the Nongkor reservoir. The Chonburi Provincial Irrigation Project has an additional plan to construct Khaomaikaew reservoir, which can supply water to support the Mabprachan reservoir so that it could have approximately 2 million m3 of water.

The Chonburi area uses water from the Bangpra reservoir filter station and distributes it to the public at the rate of 66,000 m3 per day. The Praya Satcha water filter station buys additional water from East Water Co at the volume of 55,000 m3 per day. But the East Water Company has its own water supply problem, and they have had to reduce the distribution volume. The meeting suggested increasing water production to 77,000 m3 per day, which would address the immediate problem.

The districts of Muang, Panatnikhom and Panthong still have severe problems due to lacking a source of water, even after transferring water from Sriyad reservoir in Chachoengsao province. They already have a long-term plan to construct a large reservoir in Klong Luang, although there is a conflict with the Town Planning Department because of environmental issues.

The meeting also discussed the possibility of digging 69 artesian wells in the drought areas, in accordance with the previous plan that was conducted in 25 locations. Cooperation is now being undertaken with the Town Planning Department to hire a consulting company to study the environmental implications, under a budget of 5 million baht. This is an urgent need to construct the Klong Luang reservoir, and Sontaya will submit the proposal to the prime minister for fast support in ideas, projects, and the budget.

--Pattaya Mail 2005-04-15

[devildog683]

Urgent meeting held to combat water shortage crisis

PATTAYA: -- Advisor to the Prime Minister Sontaya Khunplome has held an urgent meeting with the governor of Chonburi province and concerned departments about the water shortage problem, and what the short and long term solutions will be.

The meeting, held on April 4 at the Thai Rak Thai Coordination Centre in Bang Saen, included the members of parliament for six zones in Chonburi. Along with Governor Pisit Ketphasook were Chonburi Chief Executive Pinyo Tanwiset, and representatives of the Chonburi Provincial Irrigation Project, the Provincial Waterworks Authority, the Water Resources Department, the Natural Resources and Environment Department of Chonburi, and East Water Co Ltd.

Sontaya said that the volume of water from natural water resources is lower because the rainfall in 2004 was less than average. Therefore residents in the districts of Panatnikhom, Panthong, Sriracha and Pattaya lack sufficient water. There are also 1.3 million rai of agricultural land in Chonburi that lack water and consequently have lower product yields. If this situation continues, it will affect the economy and future tourism development, along with the industrial area at Laem Chabang Port.

The situation has already been reported to the prime minister, resulting in the meeting being held with related departments for a solution to submit for budget authorization.

Bunsom Yutithampinyo, chief of the Chonburi Provincial Irrigation Project, said that only 20 percent of water from rainfall in 2004 could be collected. Therefore Chonburi had to use the previous year’s water, from 2003. Pattaya City normally uses water at the rate of about 43 million m3 per year, but the water in five reservoirs, namely Nongklangdong, Huaysaphan, Huay Khunchit, Mabprachan and Sarknork only have 40 – 60 percent of water compared to last year. In the past water was produced at 36,000 m3 per day, but they have had to reduce the volume of production to 22,000 m2 per day since December.

Because of the effect this has on the population in general, and on business, the meeting suggested the solution of increasing the volume of water back to its original level by buying additional water at 12,000 m3 per day from Thung Kraud of East Water Co Ltd. However, another problem is that the water pipes form a bottleneck, which creates an obstacle for water pressure.

The problem can be reduced for a while because there is an arrangement to add water from the Nongkor reservoir. The Chonburi Provincial Irrigation Project has an additional plan to construct Khaomaikaew reservoir, which can supply water to support the Mabprachan reservoir so that it could have approximately 2 million m3 of water.

The Chonburi area uses water from the Bangpra reservoir filter station and distributes it to the public at the rate of 66,000 m3 per day. The Praya Satcha water filter station buys additional water from East Water Co at the volume of 55,000 m3 per day. But the East Water Company has its own water supply problem, and they have had to reduce the distribution volume. The meeting suggested increasing water production to 77,000 m3 per day, which would address the immediate problem.

The districts of Muang, Panatnikhom and Panthong still have severe problems due to lacking a source of water, even after transferring water from Sriyad reservoir in Chachoengsao province. They already have a long-term plan to construct a large reservoir in Klong Luang, although there is a conflict with the Town Planning Department because of environmental issues.

The meeting also discussed the possibility of digging 69 artesian wells in the drought areas, in accordance with the previous plan that was conducted in 25 locations. Cooperation is now being undertaken with the Town Planning Department to hire a consulting company to study the environmental implications, under a budget of 5 million baht. This is an urgent need to construct the Klong Luang reservoir, and Sontaya will submit the proposal to the prime minister for fast support in ideas, projects, and the budget.

--Pattaya Mail 2005-04-15

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

happy songkran

[penzman]

Urgent meeting held to combat water shortage crisis

PATTAYA: -- Advisor to the Prime Minister Sontaya Khunplome has held an urgent meeting with the governor of Chonburi province and concerned departments about the water shortage problem, and what the short and long term solutions will be.

The meeting, held on April 4 at the Thai Rak Thai Coordination Centre in Bang Saen, included the members of parliament for six zones in Chonburi. Along with Governor Pisit Ketphasook were Chonburi Chief Executive Pinyo Tanwiset, and representatives of the Chonburi Provincial Irrigation Project, the Provincial Waterworks Authority, the Water Resources Department, the Natural Resources and Environment Department of Chonburi, and East Water Co Ltd.

Sontaya said that the volume of water from natural water resources is lower because the rainfall in 2004 was less than average. Therefore residents in the districts of Panatnikhom, Panthong, Sriracha and Pattaya lack sufficient water. There are also 1.3 million rai of agricultural land in Chonburi that lack water and consequently have lower product yields. If this situation continues, it will affect the economy and future tourism development, along with the industrial area at Laem Chabang Port.

The situation has already been reported to the prime minister, resulting in the meeting being held with related departments for a solution to submit for budget authorization.

Bunsom Yutithampinyo, chief of the Chonburi Provincial Irrigation Project, said that only 20 percent of water from rainfall in 2004 could be collected. Therefore Chonburi had to use the previous year’s water, from 2003. Pattaya City normally uses water at the rate of about 43 million m3 per year, but the water in five reservoirs, namely Nongklangdong, Huaysaphan, Huay Khunchit, Mabprachan and Sarknork only have 40 – 60 percent of water compared to last year. In the past water was produced at 36,000 m3 per day, but they have had to reduce the volume of production to 22,000 m2 per day since December.

Because of the effect this has on the population in general, and on business, the meeting suggested the solution of increasing the volume of water back to its original level by buying additional water at 12,000 m3 per day from Thung Kraud of East Water Co Ltd. However, another problem is that the water pipes form a bottleneck, which creates an obstacle for water pressure.

The problem can be reduced for a while because there is an arrangement to add water from the Nongkor reservoir. The Chonburi Provincial Irrigation Project has an additional plan to construct Khaomaikaew reservoir, which can supply water to support the Mabprachan reservoir so that it could have approximately 2 million m3 of water.

The Chonburi area uses water from the Bangpra reservoir filter station and distributes it to the public at the rate of 66,000 m3 per day. The Praya Satcha water filter station buys additional water from East Water Co at the volume of 55,000 m3 per day. But the East Water Company has its own water supply problem, and they have had to reduce the distribution volume. The meeting suggested increasing water production to 77,000 m3 per day, which would address the immediate problem.

The districts of Muang, Panatnikhom and Panthong still have severe problems due to lacking a source of water, even after transferring water from Sriyad reservoir in Chachoengsao province. They already have a long-term plan to construct a large reservoir in Klong Luang, although there is a conflict with the Town Planning Department because of environmental issues.

The meeting also discussed the possibility of digging 69 artesian wells in the drought areas, in accordance with the previous plan that was conducted in 25 locations. Cooperation is now being undertaken with the Town Planning Department to hire a consulting company to study the environmental implications, under a budget of 5 million baht. This is an urgent need to construct the Klong Luang reservoir, and Sontaya will submit the proposal to the prime minister for fast support in ideas, projects, and the budget.

--Pattaya Mail 2005-04-15

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The same is happening here in Chonburi where the water mains are shut off every week from Monday to Thursday... It's funny that they're allowing dozens and dozens of new villages and buildings to be built and new buildings all over the place only to realize that they can not supply water to them later on

Acres and acres of rice fields and marshes have been buried around here in the last 2 years.

Seems to me like some people are too busy making money selling land, getting kickbacks and building new projects rather than planning ahead for steady water distribution . The drought is partly responsible but is not the major cause of the water shortage.

[doctormann]

Perhaps we could make a start by plugging the leaks!

There has been water running down Soi Khao Talo now for at least two months. Much of the sidewalk has been dug up to try and sort this out but the only effect, so far, has been a lot of rubble on the road. Have they given up?

Actually, I'm not sure who 'they' are in this case - is it the responsibility of the local water authority or of the various housing projects on the soi? I certainly pay my water and services bill directly to my village - not to any centralised authority.

[Kerryd]

Bloody great. This means I'll be showering using a bucket and a bowl again, as the building I live in seems to have had it's water shut off since December (they get the roof tank filled by truck 3 times a day on average).