Cherng Talay Suffers From Drought

[webfact]

Cherng Talay suffers from drought

Officials view aerial photos of Cherng Talay to brainstorm ways to deal with the current drought.

CHERNG TALAY, PHUKET: -- Cherng Talay is drying up. That’s the fear of many local residents, who voiced their concerns at a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall on Monday.

Phuket Vice Governor Teerayut Eimtrakul chaired the discussion, which saw community representatives explain the area’s water management problems to Cherng Talay Tambon Administration Organization (TAO) officials and hydrology experts.

Residents say Cherng Talay’s ponds are drying up, saltwater intrusion is lowering the quality of what little water remains and groundwater resources are being diverted from their neighborhoods by property developers.

One TAO officer agreed, saying he knew of at least one property project that was using up ground water and causing a pond to desiccate.

Amnart Tantitamsopon, a geologist, said the problem was related to supply and demand. A growing island population is using more water, but there is currently less rainfall than normal due to the ‘El Nino’ effect.

Large construction projects were also a cause, he said.

“Property development covers the earth with concrete, preventing water from seeping into the ground,” he said.

“Increased amounts of dissolved iron in fresh water due to the history of tin mining in the area is also a problem,” he added.

V/Gov Teerayut said local government organizations needed to identify specific problem areas by listening carefully to residents’ complaints.

The provincial groundwater management unit and the Phuket Provincial Office of Natural Resources and Environment should work together to map out areas where groundwater is being used, he said.

Mr Amnart said there needed to be better rainwater collection strategies, as this is the island’s only source of fresh water.

“Every property development and household should have a water tank to store rain during dry periods,” he said.

“People think Phuket is a tropical island, but they forget that during the hot season it can get very dry,” he said.

Thus far in 2010, the Meteorological Department (MET) monitoring station in Phuket Town has recorded just 117.7 millimeters of rainfall. The second station at Phuket Airport has recorded even less, just 75.3mm.

February is statistically the driest month at both stations.

Rainfall amounts typically begin to increase significantly in April with the onset of the monsoon season.

The most serious droughts in Phuket occur when the monsoon season arrives late and reserve supplies are used up during the high season for tourism, when demand for water is at its highest.

-- Phuket Gazette 2010-02-18

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[ScubaBuddha]

3 weeks with no rain and it's a drought? No, it's poor planning.

[JetsetBkk]

Amnart Tantitamsopon, a geologist, said the problem was related to supply and demand.

Now this is what Phuket needs. People with a good education, a university degree in geology and aren't afraid to state the bl33din' obvious.

V/Gov Teerayut said local government organizations needed to identify specific problem areas by listening carefully to residents’ complaints.

Good idea. So:

1. Why does the water go off every day in Rawai and come back again at night?

2. Is this in any way linked to the water tanker company at the end of my soi?

3. When my water is off, how come the massive pipes supplying the water company's tankers are on full flow?

4. Does the water tanker company have the means to isolate the rest of the soi?

5. Is the owner of the water tanker company in any way related to anyone in Phuket Water Administration?

“Every property development and household should have a water tank to store rain during dry periods,” he said.

6. Is any officer working for the Phuket Water Administration in any way linked to the suppliers of water tanks, water pumps or the tanker companies?

7. Should I shut up before I get a bullet in the back of my head?

“People think Phuket is a tropical island, but they forget that during the hot season it can get very dry,” he said.

You couldn't make this stuff up.

[billythehat]

You couldn't make this stuff up.

you wanna bet?...heh, heh.. lol:

....mmmm...from the comments taken on that meeting, one could summarize that the Island is suffering from the 'El Somchai Effect.'

Oh, to have been a guest speaker at that meeting...

Somchai: "Okay, we all hab agree. My cousin me, him hab sticking plaster factory, do large size to fix big popem wid water here. Also I hab 2 plastic buckets to sell that me no need as I hab clean Mercedes wid hosepipe."

Farang guest speaker: "May I offer some suggestions?"

Somchai's: "NO, yoo hab not...Farang yoo go."

Farang guest speaker: "Okay, but I should mention I know General Somchai Porncorruptittii and he said that if I had any trouble......"

Somchai: "...mmm...okay, farang, but yoo hab make it quick....(snarl, sulk..)

Farang guest speaker: "Had you considered a pumping station located on the mainland to supply demand in drought times?...or possibly a desalination plant?...."

Somchai: "....Fawang....yoo hab eggsackry terty minni to be on that plane...yoo unnerstan me?..."

[JetsetBkk]

^

If only it wasn't a laughing matter.

Is this the official view?:

Mr Amnart said ...<snip> ...Every property development and household should have a water tank to store rain during dry periods,” he said.

Is it now official that the Phuket Water Authority cannot be relied on to supply water 365 days a year?

With all the money the administration is spending/has spent on trees down the middle of Thepkassatri Road, new pretty blue and gold street signs, etc., they don't have the ability to supply their inhabitants with one of the basic needs - water.

Another 'hub' label for Phuket: the hub of incompetent governance.