Rain will save Bangkok from tap-water disruption, waterworks boss says

[CantSpell]

In meantime in the south: hasn't stopped raining for over a month on a daily basis... Much more than last 2 years for sure

Roman had aqueducts...

[Asiantravel]

This sounds like just the kind of outrageous statement the TAT would make

[dcutman]

"Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday that if the greater Bangkok area really faced a water shortage, artesian wells would be dug. "That's our contingency plan," the PM said."

"'WOW!

Great plan B."

If you have a better plan, now's the time to share it.

Really? Are you for real?

If you had 10 million people living in your backyard and only had 1 month supply of water for all, and not sure when you will be getting more. Do you think, maybe, just maybe, you would go into a serious conservation mode?

BKK is using 5.2 million cubes of water a day, how many wells would need to be dug to account for that much water, and ho long would that take?

[Ulic]

The statement about rain coming isn't entirely wishful thinking:

August & September are normally the rainiest months in Thailand. Hopefully that will be true this year!

However, we would need 2 or 3 x the normal rainfall to prepare for the next dry season. Even if it rains the normal amount in the coming months, we will probably see shortages again in early '16.

Certainly not entirely wishful thinking, and I too am sure the rain will come by August, September, or October

but May, June, and July have been a big let down looking at the above average chart. What do the levels

and monthly disbursement look like for an El Nino year?

[billd766]

Southern Star hit the nail on the head. So much more can and needs to be done. California is in the throes of severe drought and they are having trouble coping and have to bring water in from other areas of the US at huge costs. The time to plan is not when you are one month away from disaster but to have a long term plan which addresses the needs of your business sector, agriculture and private sector. You don't plan for an earthquake while you are having one. It appears the current answer is to pray for rain- maybe we need to import some witch doctors or rainmakers who dance under the stars in hopes of rain.

I do wish that people would not keep blaming the current government for what is happening NOW when the blame stretches back some 20 or 30 years of both military and civil, Thaksin and the Democrats and all the other grubby party leaders who did nothing but talk, vote money only to have it go missing.

Yes the planning IS needed now but it HAS been needed for 20 or 30 years.

At least this government is trying to DO something about it.

[billd766]

In meantime in the south: hasn't stopped raining for over a month on a daily basis... Much more than last 2 years for sure

Roman had aqueducts...

And there were far less people in their world needing water with plenty of slaves to do the grunt work.

[robblok]

The statement about rain coming isn't entirely wishful thinking:

August & September are normally the rainiest months in Thailand. Hopefully that will be true this year!

However, we would need 2 or 3 x the normal rainfall to prepare for the next dry season. Even if it rains the normal amount in the coming months, we will probably see shortages again in early '16.

No shortages if they severely limit rice farming, why would a whole country suffer for rice farmers who think they are entitled to all the water there is and let other people take the hit.

Of course other large water users should be limited too in the end the normal consumer should not suffer because of people making money of a limited resource that they don't pay for and should benefit everyone.

Yes let them stop farming. We can import all the food we need and if we pay a little more its okay. "The poor can eat chicken" - your dear leaders words, (see BKK Post 7 July - Atiya's opinion pices for context). I mean only 40% plus of the people are involved in agriculture, as a minority they must listen to the Bangkok middle class and elites. Yes and let them pay for the water they use so that food prices can increase with 30%. As long as the golf courses gets irragted who needs green rice fields. If the poor revolt because there is no food or they cant live on B 300/day anymore, we just send in the army, no problem. Lets also stop te factories that use water and send all the buffalo's back to Esaan.

If you however are interested to solve the problem lets look at implementing water usage restrictions in case it doesn't rain. Lets get people to develop and implement a water system management system to prevent droughts and floods having a negative impact on lives - remember the one that the present government shelved. Lets embark on national program to upgrade the farmers irrigation systems to prevent the current 30% water loss, we can use the B 32 bn from the subs for that. Lets embark on a national programme to fix leaking water pipes which waste even more water.

We are talking about rice farming here.. that is using much water.. and last time i checked there is still quite a surplus of rice in this country. So rising prices of rice is not really an issue. Is this logic too much for you ?

Of course factories should pay for their water too.. (seems people cant read my posts) as factories are large water users. I don't understand why people complain when water has to be shared. Same goes for golf.. if they use to much let them pay for it. Just don't screw other people over by selfishness. Remember many people on the 300 bt use the water machines next to roads.. and if the saline levels get to high they cant use it and have to buy more expensive water.