Save water, dept urges as El Nino looms
Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation

Irrigation agency warns of severe drought next year due to less rainfall

BANGKOK: -- The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) has urged members of the public and farmers to be conservative in the use of water, as Thailand may face a severe drought next year due to the El Nino phenomenon, which is expected to reduce rainfall.

The volume of water reserves in the major dams would not be enough for use this year, Thongplew Kongjun, director of the Department's Office of Water Management and Hydrology, said.

He explained that the Department this year is expected to use 5.3 billion cubic metres of water from three major dams during the dry season. But the water reserves that it has used have exceeded the planby 600 million cubic metre.

Additionally, the Department expects rains to start later - in the middle of May - than normal, which means Thailand would not have water reserves for this year and next year.

"We must enter into the save mode," he said.

"Hopefully, farmers will not start planting their rice farms during this season. If they don't, then we will have enough water," he added.

Citing the weather forecast model, Maytee Mahayosananta, director of the Meteorological Department's Central Weather Forecast Division, said Thailand this year would encounter the El Nino phenomenon, which will reduce rainfall.

"The consequences of El Nino would be the worst next year," he said.

Because of this phenomenon, Thailand would not have enough water during this year and next year, he warned.

The volume of water this year would be less than that in 2013.

Meanwhile, Suwattana Jitraladakorn, chairman of the Engineering Institute of Thailand's water-resources engineering sub-panel, said the amount of water in the Chao Phraya River this year is lower than normal.

The water reserves in each of the major dams in the Chao Phraya River basin - Bhumibhol, Sirikit and Kaewnoi - was only about only 20 per cent of their total retention capacity.

He explained that the water reserves in these three dams were low because the authorities had discharged a large volume of water in 2012.

Also, he found that the number of rice farms this year had grown over 200 per cent.

Suwattana was also worried about the mixing of salt water in the Chao Phraya River basin due to the high tides.

He said the situation would be worse if there was not enough fresh water to force the salt water back into the sea.

"We found that there was not enough water from small canals flowing into the Chao Phraya to force the salt water back into the sea," he said.

To ensure that the salt-water encroachment will not affect the production of pipe water, and the agricultural sector, Thongplew said the Deparment has prepared a plan to drain water from several canals to force out the salt water. The Department will drain water from the Chao Phraya dam, Rama VI dam, Mae Klong River, Tachin River, Klong Yong canal, and Mahasawas canal.

"The situation of salt water encroachment has now returned to normal," he said.


-- The Nation 2014-03-26

how much water gets wasted at songkran ??

Also, he found that the number of rice farms this year had grown over 200 per cent.

How is that even possible?

Also, he found that the number of rice farms this year had grown over 200 per cent.

How is that even possible?

I think he may mean that the area of rice planted outside of the rainy season ie requiring irrigation water has doubled. This was always going to happen when there were no restrictions on the rice scam, ie when you pay 40% over the market price a lot more farmers will pay for diesel and electricity to pump water to their rice fields, when in other year they would be left fallow . Another of the many faults with the TS's rice shcheme, but of course he didn't care about the farmers or Thailand, he just needed his party & sister to get elected to be the Government.

Save water???

With Songkran just around the corner? I'm sure the Thais will follow those orders.

Good luck!!

Water, water, everywhere, but not a drop to drink.

Fact: according to the Thai year the country is over 2000 years old, right! The country has been through many droughts and floods during that time, right! I just can’t believe that we still don’t have the technology to be able to control our water resources yet. Perhaps we are putting the right people in the wrong jobs.

Ask the Dutch how to do regarding salt water encroachment. 50% of their country lays lower than the sea level and they are experts in water management and flood protection. That's why they are called The Netherlands.

He explained that the water reserves in these three dams were low because the authorities had discharged a large volume of water in 2012.

I wonder why.

The allotment of irrigation water for the farmers can be regulated and controlled at the mouth of those canels which are the source of the supply of water. Of course, for control of water resources to be effective, a single chain of command from 'top' (reserviors) to bottom (rice paddies), will have to be implemented.

Try telling this to TAT, or do you work separate like Jutaporn and Yinluck/PTP.

TAT doing a campaign for the water festival JOKE. There will always be enough water for all the Thai pick-ups with a 50 gal pot in the back having a battle on the highway with another--or as a m/cycle overtakes he gets a full bucket of water in his face, Deaths and New year celebrations are hand in hand.

Watch out Mr. El Nino has started weaving cloth. (El Nino LOOMS)

i hope they waste billions of litres of water during songkran and then suffer the most massive drought in recorded history ........

these people are too stupid to listen to warnings so let them learn it the hard way ......or the thai way that "farang no understand "

as they like to say ..................

There will be a drought this year ,never mind next year,

better get your water tanks filled and pump checked out

The rain fall this last rainy season was the lowest I have

seen in 25 years up here in the North,so it was not difficult

at all to predict there is going to be problems,and the Government

just comes out with this now.

regards Worgeordie

Also, he found that the number of rice farms this year had grown over 200 per cent.

How is that even possible?

Because of the windfall payments from the government making rice the most profitable crop, even low quality rice. (Opinion of course).

Maybe the government has been too focused on flood prevention and not on water storage for use in industry and agriculture. Not that doing so is easy, however they seem to be less competent than before.

Coming from Australia where we live with water restrictions year round in many areas, saving water is second nature to me. My Thai family think its a huge joke. Every time I have a shower Im told - mai save water.

If they want urban Thais to save water they better start spending baht on convincing them why.

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Also, he found that the number of rice farms this year had grown over 200 per cent.

How is that even possible?

I think he may mean that the area of rice planted outside of the rainy season ie requiring irrigation water has doubled. This was always going to happen when there were no restrictions on the rice scam, ie when you pay 40% over the market price a lot more farmers will pay for diesel and electricity to pump water to their rice fields, when in other year they would be left fallow . Another of the many faults with the TS's rice shcheme, but of course he didn't care about the farmers or Thailand, he just needed his party & sister to get elected to be the Government.

You may be right, I have no idea, but a 200% increase means it has tripled, not doubled, that much I do know.

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Also, he found that the number of rice farms this year had grown over 200 per cent.

How is that even possible?

They heard there is money to be made.

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Coming from Australia where we live with water restrictions year round in many areas, saving water is second nature to me. My Thai family think its a huge joke. Every time I have a shower Im told - mai save water.
If they want urban Thais to save water they better start spending baht on convincing them why.

Sent from my GT-I9300T using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

One hour showers are out, they should also start making user pay that will slow them down

Save water, dept urges as El Nino looms

Don't worry, during rainy season, August, September and climax October, Thailand will have enough and super excessive water again, which will end lethally anyway... due to Government self-serving agendas as usual.....

Thank god, they can blame it on a farrang: El Nino !

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Also, he found that the number of rice farms this year had grown over 200 per cent.

How is that even possible?

They heard there is money to be made.

Just an other effect of the rice scam, the great program thought of by dear Leader.

Thais know themselves very well, stubborn and the mai pen rai attitude is a recipe for disaster for their society ; health and safety (non existent), lying and cheating to enrich themselves at cost of others comes normal to them and is not frowned upon (teaching of the buddha ? Not), all and sundry wants to be the boss but without taking the responsibilities, laziness is a good thing apparently..... and so on..So the get back on topic of saving water..... nah not them, why should they, it is their water and they will use it to water the garden in times of drought, thainess at its best !!

After 18 years here all I can say about them is; the majority are utterly useless and have indeed a lower IQ then your average westerner.

Also, he found that the number of rice farms this year had grown over 200 per cent.

How is that even possible?

By more rice farms being brought into production, perhaps? Why should it not be possible?

how much water gets wasted at songkran ??

Not enough to be concerned about otherwise he would have mentioned it.

Also, he found that the number of rice farms this year had grown over 200 per cent.

How is that even possible?

I think he may mean that the area of rice planted outside of the rainy season ie requiring irrigation water has doubled. This was always going to happen when there were no restrictions on the rice scam, ie when you pay 40% over the market price a lot more farmers will pay for diesel and electricity to pump water to their rice fields, when in other year they would be left fallow . Another of the many faults with the TS's rice shcheme, but of course he didn't care about the farmers or Thailand, he just needed his party & sister to get elected to be the Government.

"...has doubled."

That would be a 100% increase.

i hope they waste billions of litres of water during songkran and then suffer the most massive drought in recorded history ........

these people are too stupid to listen to warnings so let them learn it the hard way ......or the thai way that "farang no understand "

as they like to say ..................

Very nice sentiments. Why are you so bitter towards the Thai people?

Maybe people should be taught that when a tap is turned on, dont leave it running for 30 minutes for no reason at all. I have seen this many times in Thai homes, they just dont seem to care. They would if they got a water bill like we get in the UK, they would be saving every drop of it !

He explained that the water reserves in these three dams were low because the authorities had discharged a large volume of water in 2012.

Yep, they did that to prevent them "overfilling" in case it would've been a new flooding...that never came and now the dams are half-empty...what a punch of *peep*!!!

Thais know themselves very well, stubborn and the mai pen rai attitude is a recipe for disaster for their society ; health and safety (non existent), lying and cheating to enrich themselves at cost of others comes normal to them and is not frowned upon (teaching of the buddha ? Not), all and sundry wants to be the boss but without taking the responsibilities, laziness is a good thing apparently..... and so on..So the get back on topic of saving water..... nah not them, why should they, it is their water and they will use it to water the garden in times of drought, thainess at its best !!

After 18 years here all I can say about them is; the majority are utterly useless and have indeed a lower IQ then your average westerner.

Don't think attacking the people is the answer. If we're all so useless and inferior here, perhaps a change of scene is in order. I can suggest some parts of southern Mississippi where you'd fit right in.

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I think after almost 20 years here I have seen a lot about Thai society and see no improvements. by the way can you read ? I did point out " the majority" this means not the whole population !

You refer to yourself as we, I take it you are Thai ? Barbara sounds very Thai ?? Or are you a western Thai wannabe ?

They can recycle the bath water at all the massage parlours.