Bangkok's tap-water services hit by drought

[webfact]

Tap-water services hit by drought
The Nation



Ten provincial water outlets plus branches in east Bangkok affected

BANGKOK: -- ONGOING drought is threatening the delivery of tap-water services with impacts felt in both urban and rural zones.

"Our Bang Khen facility has lowered its tap-water production and distribution since last month. The move means weaker water flow during some periods of a day particularly in eastern Bangkok and (adjacent) Samut Prakan province," Metropolitan Water-works Authority (MWA) governor Thanasak Watanathana said the other day.

Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA) governor Ratana Kitchawan also disclosed that 10 of her authorities' branches had already experienced shortage of raw water.

"Most of them are located in the Northeast. We are trying to find artesian water or water from |nearby areas to compensate," she said.

Both Thanasak and Ratana believed that water supply in major dams could be enough for use over the next 30 days only.

"This year, rainfall is the lowest in three decades," Ratana said.

Thanasak added that the Royal Irrigation Department's decision to release less water from dams could mean there is not enough freshwater to keep seawater from intruding at the mouth of the Chao Phraya River too.

This means the salinity of |water in the area may soon be |too high for waterwork usage.

"If the salinity soars past standard level, we will ask people to store water beforehand," Thanasak said.

He said his authority was now trying to store as much water as possible for water use.

Ratana said PWA facilities in some seaside provinces were also affected as raw water turned salty.

"For example, our facility in Chachoengsao now needs to rely on water from Chon Buri province," she said.

Chao Phraya Dam Project director Ekasit Sakdeethanaporn said yesterday the level of the Chao Phraya just north of the Chao Phraya Dam had dropped by a |further six centimetres to the |lowest level in three decades.

Ekasit said he had alerted |people living on the banks of the river to constantly check the strength of their homes.

"The banks may partially |collapse and affect their houses," he said.

In the Chainat province, a riverside house collapsed along with a crumbling bank of the Chao Phraya on Saturday night.

House owner Wassana Sanitchart said her neighbour saw on Saturday afternoon that her house was at risk and they helped her move belongings out of the structure.

"My house's balcony stretched out into the river," Wassana said.

Three other nearby houses |sustained partial damage.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Tap-water-services-hit-by-drought-30263305.html


-- The Nation 2015-06-29

[kerrysum]

Thailand's big problem? No infrastructure when it comes to water storage, and sadly even America is the same way! And to add many other nations!

[kannot]

Surpised they havent all bee told to drink Coke to "save water"

[geriatrickid]

Thailand's big problem? No infrastructure when it comes to water storage, and sadly even America is the same way! And to add many other nations!

If you mean the USA, you are incorrect. The USA has one of the most extensive water management systems in the world and that includes a reservoir system that is both sophisticated and capable of handling drought. The only reason there is a problem in Southern California is because there has been a drought for the past few years and California's farmers insist on growing water intensive crops in regions where they should not be grown.

In Thailand, we also see farmers insist on growing water intensive crops in regions where they should not be grown. Thai farmers refuse to consider alternative crops better suited for arid conditions. This is due in large part to the cultural myth of rice. The same issue occurs in Africa, where farmers continue to plant maize which offers limited nutritional value.

[jackanapes]

bangkok now hit by water shortage all the rain theyve just had and they still have a problem . I have stated on numerous occasions groundwater wells and bore holes are the answer they could also install larger reverse osmosis plants and desalination plants the powers that be have to get their acts together .

[asdecas]

bangkok now hit by water shortage all the rain theyve just had and they still have a problem . I have stated on numerous occasions groundwater wells and bore holes are the answer they could also install larger reverse osmosis plants and desalination plants the powers that be have to get their acts together .

If only Thailand had a couple more experts with your prescience and wisdom, General Happiness could retire back to his barracks in this soon-to-be land of milk and honey.

[wprime]

Half a year of floods, half a year of drought. You'd think they'd be able to fix this.

[Sviss Geez]

Half a year of floods, half a year of drought. You'd think they'd be able to fix this.

If that was an accurate summary of the situation, of course.

[Ralf61]

We run out of tap-water Saturday night. One day of no shower. Yesterday, firefighters showed up to fill the tank. My wife tried to buy some of those 5-liters-bottles of drinking water: sold out. not funny at all. May be we are on the brink of a serious crisis...

At least a good excuse to switch to beer

Cheers

[kannot]

Thailand's big problem? No infrastructure when it comes to water storage, and sadly even America is the same way! And to add many other nations!

If you mean the USA, you are incorrect. The USA has one of the most extensive water management systems in the world and that includes a reservoir system that is both sophisticated and capable of handling drought. The only reason there is a problem in Southern California is because there has been a drought for the past few years and California's farmers insist on growing water intensive crops in regions where they should not be grown.

In Thailand, we also see farmers insist on growing water intensive crops in regions where they should not be grown. Thai farmers refuse to consider alternative crops better suited for arid conditions. This is due in large part to the cultural myth of rice. The same issue occurs in Africa, where farmers continue to plant maize which offers limited nutritional value.

By me in Pranburi is one of the driest areas in Thailand, we grow pineapples, we never water them....perfect.

We have had good rain this year especially the last 3 weeks, light rain lasting all day which is much better than a massive downpour which just runs off and doesnt soak into the ground at all, but they dont manage the water well even by me, crumbling dykes everywhere.

[DividendGuy]

Take the drinking water supply away from the Thai government's waterworks department and give it to private water companies like or similar to TTW or EASTW. They will make sure there is always water available for drinking and the quality of the water will rise too because they will build the correct infrastructures. Of course the price will go up a bit as there is always work to improve the quality of drinking water, but I am willing to pay more for a commodity I use every day. These current people who supply water seem to be so inept at supplying a product that people can't survive without on a daily basis and I am not about to start drinking saltwater.

[salween]

bangkok now hit by water shortage all the rain theyve just had and they still have a problem . I have stated on numerous occasions groundwater wells and bore holes are the answer they could also install larger reverse osmosis plants and desalination plants the powers that be have to get their acts together .

Possibly a better approach might be to shift from the supply to the demand side. Certainly wells in and around greater BKK is not a good idea at all, as groundwater pumping is already contributing to sinking--not a good scenario in this era of sea level rise. Desalting plants are not cheap and require a lot of electricity not to mention all the social inefficiencies associated with such schemes here. Why add a whole other layer of complexity and cost on a system they can't even manage now. Who knows exactly how much water municipal users waste, not to mention the infrastructure delivering it. Get at that first. Next sort out the ag policies to ensure they reflect the system's carrying capacity, both over the long term, and in times of impending shortages. Farmers in the basin knew when they plumbed into the system that should things start to look dry, that urban users downstream must be the priority.

Of course none of this is likely to happen. Heck California, the US Southwest in general, can't get their water house in order. And despite the above mention of drought there, that society has known for generations they were pushing the envelope and did nothing about it. Just kick the can down the road. All their money, university experts, etc. and they now sit in crisis management as well. Sure some innovative things are being done on the margins, but the consume to the limit lifestyle and grab more when you can continues to dominate macro-level water management there as it does in so many places.

[elgordo38]

bangkok now hit by water shortage all the rain theyve just had and they still have a problem . I have stated on numerous occasions groundwater wells and bore holes are the answer they could also install larger reverse osmosis plants and desalination plants the powers that be have to get their acts together .

Never happen costs money

[elgordo38]

bangkok now hit by water shortage all the rain theyve just had and they still have a problem . I have stated on numerous occasions groundwater wells and bore holes are the answer they could also install larger reverse osmosis plants and desalination plants the powers that be have to get their acts together .

Possibly a better approach might be to shift from the supply to the demand side. Certainly wells in and around greater BKK is not a good idea at all, as groundwater pumping is already contributing to sinking--not a good scenario in this era of sea level rise. Desalting plants are not cheap and require a lot of electricity not to mention all the social inefficiencies associated with such schemes here. Why add a whole other layer of complexity and cost on a system they can't even manage now. Who knows exactly how much water municipal users waste, not to mention the infrastructure delivering it. Get at that first. Next sort out the ag policies to ensure they reflect the system's carrying capacity, both over the long term, and in times of impending shortages. Farmers in the basin knew when they plumbed into the system that should things start to look dry, that urban users downstream must be the priority.

Of course none of this is likely to happen. Heck California, the US Southwest in general, can't get their water house in order. And despite the above mention of drought there, that society has known for generations they were pushing the envelope and did nothing about it. Just kick the can down the road. All their money, university experts, etc. and they now sit in crisis management as well. Sure some innovative things are being done on the margins, but the consume to the limit lifestyle and grab more when you can continues to dominate macro-level water management there as it does in so many places.

These countries are all broke there is no money available only band aid solutions. Fixing water problems is time consuming and expensive. Its astounding how much water is lost in old and aging infrastructure some of it older than me. Desalinization is a costly option and countries hate to invest as they keep thinking that the future will correct the drought problem. We live in a world of kick the can down the road. Look at Greece.

[a99az]

Surpised they havent all bee told to drink Coke to "save water"

Or extend the bar hours to 24hrs a day

[maderaroja]

Thailand's big problem? No infrastructure when it comes to water storage, and sadly even America is the same way! And to add many other nations!

If you mean the USA, you are incorrect. The USA has one of the most extensive water management systems in the world and that includes a reservoir system that is both sophisticated and capable of handling drought. The only reason there is a problem in Southern California is because there has been a drought for the past few years and California's farmers insist on growing water intensive crops in regions where they should not be grown.

In Thailand, we also see farmers insist on growing water intensive crops in regions where they should not be grown. Thai farmers refuse to consider alternative crops better suited for arid conditions. This is due in large part to the cultural myth of rice. The same issue occurs in Africa, where farmers continue to plant maize which offers limited nutritional value.

Hear, hear.

[user82374298374]

Here in the lower Suk, I've stored 70 liters of water in 5-litre jugs, just in case. Of course, if the water salinity remains high for a long period of time, showering and running the clothes-washer is out, so I'll head up to Khon Kaen or Chiang Mai for a while, depending on which seems to have the most water available, until BKK's water situation is sorted.

[AlQaholic]

Thailand's big problem? No infrastructure when it comes to water storage, and sadly even America is the same way! And to add many other nations!

So what are all those massive dams in central and northern Thailand for?

[Shaunduhpostman]

Up here in central Isaan, 3 times since the end of the last rainy season, we've had no water at all coming through to our village. Each time no water at all for 7-10 days. Also many days of water available only during the evening. So, if you are building a house up here, you really need to have a storage tank for back up and to keep it filled whenever water becomes available. You also have to mind when the water has been shut off, many of the pumps you might buy to move the water all the way into your house will break down and need repair if left on when no water is coming through for too long.

[SOUTHERNSTAR]

Thailand's big problem? No infrastructure when it comes to water storage, and sadly even America is the same way! And to add many other nations!

Unfortunately what you said is not 100% true. If you do some research and look at a map you will be supprised at how many dams there are. Most of these dams are build in the north, west and east of the country due to the limited dam sites available in the central region. The problem is the management of the water resources. When it became known that an El Nino are starting to form the Thai civil servants ignored it and continued to let water out at high rates. Secondly there are no co-ordinated water management system, the previous government awarded K water a tender to implement such a system but the present government canceled the tender. Thirdly about 30% of all irrigation water gets wasted. Most farmers pump water from canals and use flood irrigation, these canals leak and flood irrigation is extremely wastful. Fourthly many water supply pipes in towns and cities leak and there are major water losses.

[Guest]

Up here in central Isaan, 3 times since the end of the last rainy season, we've had no water at all coming through to our village. Each time no water at all for 7-10 days. Also many days of water available only during the evening. So, if you are building a house up here, you really need to have a storage tank for back up and to keep it filled whenever water becomes available. You also have to mind when the water has been shut off, many of the pumps you might buy to move the water all the way into your house will break down and need repair if left on when no water is coming through for too long.

Clearly living there is bliss.

Slapping myself for staying here in bangkok in a high rise with a million dollar view, and an Olympic size pool on floor 8.

WHAT was I thinking? i could be living on warm beer and washing with a wet nap!

Please, tell me, where can I sign up for this bliss filled existence?

[Petchou]

Thailand's big problem? No infrastructure when it comes to water storage, and sadly even America is the same way! And to add many other nations!

If you mean the USA, you are incorrect. The USA has one of the most extensive water management systems in the world and that includes a reservoir system that is both sophisticated and capable of handling drought. The only reason there is a problem in Southern California is because there has been a drought for the past few years and California's farmers insist on growing water intensive crops in regions where they should not be grown.

In Thailand, we also see farmers insist on growing water intensive crops in regions where they should not be grown. Thai farmers refuse to consider alternative crops better suited for arid conditions. This is due in large part to the cultural myth of rice. The same issue occurs in Africa, where farmers continue to plant maize which offers limited nutritional value.

Presently, Los Angeles and California s experiencing major water issues.

[PETERTHEEATER]

bangkok now hit by water shortage all the rain theyve just had and they still have a problem . I have stated on numerous occasions groundwater wells and bore holes are the answer they could also install larger reverse osmosis plants and desalination plants the powers that be have to get their acts together .

And from where will the energy required to generate electricity to run the RO plants come from and the fuel to heat the boilers of the desalination plants. Burmese gas perhaps?

[Inepto Cracy]

Many many moons ago, I lived through very strict water rationing due to severe water shortages. We had a slogan saying, Save water shower with a friend. Here it should be, Save water shower with your friends and neighbours.

[IAMHERE]

No water or brackish water showers and the thought of food cooked in brackish water will keep the tourist away in droves.

[Sviss Geez]

Presently, Los Angeles and California s experiencing major water issues.

LA and California?

[streetlite]

70k East of Nakhon Sawan. No running water for 32 days now. Water to the Village is delivered on a scheduled queue to individual homes. Now, they too, are out of water. We have no more water left in the collecting urns. Forget showering, forget cooking, flushing the toilet is the major concern.

[thaibeachlovers]

We run out of tap-water Saturday night. One day of no shower. Yesterday, firefighters showed up to fill the tank. My wife tried to buy some of those 5-liters-bottles of drinking water: sold out. not funny at all. May be we are on the brink of a serious crisis...

At least a good excuse to switch to beer

Cheers

Always a bad idea trying to stock up after a crisis starts. Sorry, but you should have bought the water long ago and stored for just such a time as this.

Remember the Scout saying- Be Prepared.

[thaibeachlovers]

70k East of Nakhon Sawan. No running water for 32 days now. Water to the Village is delivered on a scheduled queue to individual homes. Now, they too, are out of water. We have no more water left in the collecting urns. Forget showering, forget cooking, flushing the toilet is the major concern.

At least you are in a village so no problem- just dig a long drop toilet outside.

Are you considering a well?

[ratcatcher]

Up here in central Isaan, 3 times since the end of the last rainy season, we've had no water at all coming through to our village. Each time no water at all for 7-10 days. Also many days of water available only during the evening. So, if you are building a house up here, you really need to have a storage tank for back up and to keep it filled whenever water becomes available. You also have to mind when the water has been shut off, many of the pumps you might buy to move the water all the way into your house will break down and need repair if left on when no water is coming through for too long.

Clearly living there is bliss.

Slapping myself for staying here in bangkok in a high rise with a million dollar view, and an Olympic size pool on floor 8.

WHAT was I thinking? i could be living on warm beer and washing with a wet nap!

Please, tell me, where can I sign up for this bliss filled existence?

I am sure that million dollar view (about B33.5 million) is sometimes obscured by Bangkok's notorious smug. Mind you, 7 floors up isn't exactly in the clouds is it?