Drought Threatens Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estates: Thailand

[webfact]

Drought threatens eastern seaboard industrial estates

BANGKOK, May 4 – In an attempt to avert a repetition of the 2005 drought crisis, the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) is closely monitoring the drought in the East, coordinating with concerned agencies to ensure adequate water supply for the eastern industrial estates, IEAT Governor Veerapong Chaiperm said on Friday.

The governor said the water level in three reservoirs in the east dropped to 50 per cent of their capacity in April this year, similar level to that in April 2004 prior to the 2005 drought crisis when the water level fell to only 15 per cent of the reservoirs’ capacity.

The industrial estate authority is coordinating with the Royal Irrigation Department and Eastern Water Resources Development and Management (EASTW), suppliers of raw water for the industrial sector, to handle the situation to ensure enough water supply to five eastern industrial estates – Map Ta Phut, Padaeng, Hemaraj Eastern, Asia and RIL in the eastern province of Rayong.

IEAT plans to seek funds from the Ministry of Industry to build more reservoir under a three-year project being studied, he said.

Five industrial estates use about 230,000 cubic metres per day. Operators need production plans to suit the water situation and water recycle and water production from sea water are being considered.

Mr Veerapong said after the rainy season ends, the water level in reservoirs will be assessed whether more rain-making operations are needed in the area.

Meanwhile, Industry Minister Pongsawat Svasti said the water level measured on April 20 was higher than during the 2004-2005 water crisis and more water flowed into a reservoir, so raw water is adequate for production in industrial estates.

In another attempt to fight drought, the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives has been speeding up making artificial rain.

Supatra Thanaseniwat Permanent Secretary for Agriculture said the rainmaking operation started Feb 20 and since then to April 30, the Bureau of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation run 1,341 flights, making rain in 56 provinces with the highest daily rainfall recorded at 141.5 millimetres.

In April alone, 781 flights made artificial rainfalls in 55 provinces.

The artificial rainmaking operation continues to increase the amount of water in reservoirs in this year’s dry season.

Regarding the amount of water in the country’s reservoirs, Kitti Tancharoen, Assistant Governor for Hydro Power Plants of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) said as of May 2, EGAT reservoirs contain 59 per cent of their capacity or 36 million cubic metres, six per cent higher than the amount of water recorded on the same period last year.

Water in the reservoirs is enough for agriculture ahead of the rainy season if there is no further rainfall.

He said a subcommittee, following up and analysing the water situation in the Chao Phraya Basin agreed to release more water from the Bhumibol and Sirikit Dams to suit actual water use and to supply water to farmlands in the Chao Phraya project from April 29 to May 6. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-05-04

[Thai at Heart]

Oh strewth, glut and famine, the non-flooded industrial part of the country now faces problems because of drought.

Emergency budget required. De-salination? it isn't as though they lack sea down in Rayong......

[h90]

Oh strewth, glut and famine, the non-flooded industrial part of the country now faces problems because of drought.

Emergency budget required. De-salination? it isn't as though they lack sea down in Rayong......

De-salination is super expensive....

[Nisa]

Oh strewth, glut and famine, the non-flooded industrial part of the country now faces problems because of drought.

Emergency budget required. De-salination? it isn't as though they lack sea down in Rayong......

De-salination is super expensive....

And makes absolutely no sense what-so-ever in a country that does have huge rainfall.

[Thai at Heart]

Oh strewth, glut and famine, the non-flooded industrial part of the country now faces problems because of drought.

Emergency budget required. De-salination? it isn't as though they lack sea down in Rayong......

De-salination is super expensive....

And makes absolutely no sense what-so-ever in a country that does have huge rainfall.

I heard they are seriously considering it for rayong/maptaput. Forget reservoirs to guarantee satisfying the industry and area down there. Demand is enormous.

[dezy1801]

230,000 cubic metres per day thats about what they waste during Songkran per hour.

[saengsureeya]

The lake near Bang Phra Golf Club is filled up to its "neck" and aren't they building (maybe it's even finished) a huge pipeline from Rayong to Bangkok in order to supply Bangkok with de-salinated water?

BTW.......this morning in Bang Saen, it started raining at 4.50 a.m. and since then some torrential rains have been passed.

[harryfrompattaya]

Oh strewth, glut and famine, the non-flooded industrial part of the country now faces problems because of drought.

Emergency budget required. De-salination? it isn't as though they lack sea down in Rayong......

Once again it is time for all of us who are married to Hi SO to send money to help build the Desalination plant

We can name it Thai Visa Desalination plant.

[otherstuff1957]

That area has a relatively small watershed and no major rivers, so water shortages during the dry season are pretty much inevitable. The only reason that the rest of Thailand doesn't have the same problem is water coming down the Chao Phraya or Mekong.