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DROUGHT
Farms face threat of going dry as water cut
Pratch Rujivanarom,
Wattana Khamchu
The Nation



Dams to reduce water released for irrigation to avert tapwater crisis

BANGKOK: -- THE Cabinet will consider a plan today that seeks to avert a tap-water shortage crisis - by cutting the volume of irrigation water from dams and barring farmers from diverting water from public channels to their farmland.

If the plan goes ahead, about 3.2 million rai of farmland will face the threat of a lack of water - if there is no rain.

At present, dams are releasing 28 million cubic metres of water a day. But the plan aims to reduce the volume to just 18 million from Thursday onward, to reserve water for household use.

Interior Minister General Anupong Paochinda unveiled the plan yesterday after a meeting with agencies including the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority (MWA), Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA) and the Royal Irrigation Department.

"We believe the measures will ensure the country has raw water for piped-water production until August," he said.

The meeting took place after several areas adjacent to Bangkok suffered a tap-water shortage.

Officials at the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) insisted yesterday that latest assessments showed the capital would not experience any tap-water disruption - though water levels in some canals in its eastern zone have dried up.

Anupong asked farmers yesterday not to pump water for their crops during this period as it is needed first for domestic use.

The order has passed down to local levels, with Pathum Thani provincial governor Pongsathorn Sajjacholaphan requesting farmers along Raphipat Canal not to pump water from the canal for three days: July 12 to July 14.

The water use restriction also applies along the Chai Nat- Pasak canal. Raw water from the Chao Phraya will be used to supply the raw water pumping station in Lop Buri first, then water will be distributed to farmers.

"The Royal Irrigation Department confirmed that if there is no water taken out of the system, it can supply water until rain arrives in August," Anupong said.

On the Royal Irrigation Department's irrigation water reduction plan, water released from Bhumibol Dam will be cut from 8 million cubic metres to 5 million cubic metres - and Sirikit Dam from 17.27 million cubic metres to 11 million cubic metres.

According a report by the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry, 3.2 million rai of farmland will suffer some crop damage due to the cut in irrigation water.

"Up until now the MWA and Royal Irrigation Department can work properly without a problem, while I still haven't received the PWA information yet, but I believe there will be no severe disruption than the minor tap-water shortage in some areas," he said.



Parts of Pathum Thani have faced a tap-water shortage for three days.

PWA governor Ratana Kitchawan revealed that the tap-water production at PWA Thanyaburi office has started again and tap-water was ready for distribution from yesterday evening.

Water supplied by the Irrigation Department from the Pa Sak River reached the production site yesterday morning and is expected to be sufficient for tap-water production until August.

"In case the irrigation water is not enough for tap-water use, the alternative source of water is from Chaipattana Foundation's pond, Phra Ram Khao pond and artesian wells," Ratana said.

In regard to the impact of drought on the tap-water service in the Bangkok area, MWA governor Thanasak Watanathana said the water shortage in parts of Pathum Thani was not affecting Bangkok because raw water for piped water production was from the Chao Phraya River. In Pathum Thani the raw water for tap-water production came from the Pa Sak River.

From Royal Irrigation Department figures yesterday, the available water in Pa Sak Jolasid Dam - which supplies water in the Pa Sak River - had only 5 per cent of overall capacity. Bhumibol Dam and Sirikit Dam, which supply water to the Chao Phraya, had 29 per cent and 33 per cent of overall capacity respectively.

Overall, 601 villages in Phrae, Chon Buri, Sukhothai and Pathum Thani have been declared emergency drought zones by the National Disaster Warning Centre. The office said 1,401 villages in six provinces had been affected by drought.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha urged everyone to save water because the available supply is low. He also ordered provincial governors to mediate with farmers.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Farms-face-threat-of-going-dry-as-water-cut-30264392.html


-- The Nation 2015-07-14

[BSJ]

The wife and I are hoping for a torrential down pour in the next day or 2 to save the rice she planted, otherwise it's dead and already buried!

[bangkokfrog]

I am interested in the picture posted in this article. It shows a lot of vegetation left after the water has gone. Is this water hyacinth? If so, should the powers that be use the drought as an opportunity to remove it or does it serve a purpose here? In my country it is considered a major pest.

Just asking.

[robblok]

I am interested in the picture posted in this article. It shows a lot of vegetation left after the water has gone. Is this water hyacinth? If so, should the powers that be use the drought as an opportunity to remove it or does it serve a purpose here? In my country it is considered a major pest.

Just asking.

Come on where is the cut for the official in that it would require working. Much better to spend money on large projects of building something where they can take a cut.

(I agree with you but I doubt officials will use the drought to clean out canals)

[robblok]

Seems the government thinks the same as I do consumer tap water before water for farmers. No tap water would be a big deal for everyone, rice there is still plenty in storage.

Too bad for the farmers but they were told not to plant a few times and those that did not listen feel the effects now. Just imagine if a city the size of BKK runs out of tap water. That would really be bad.

[bangkokheat]

bleeding foreigners using up all the water, cant wait for songkran again

keep building those condos, all is good

[uli65]

why you forget the bleeding thais wasting all their water in songkran!!!

[diehard60]

Yep all the bangkok elites are saying the hell with the farmers again. Or as always they do not care about them in the least little way.

[diehard60]

Seems the government thinks the same as I do consumer tap water before water for farmers. No tap water would be a big deal for everyone, rice there is still plenty in storage.

Too bad for the farmers but they were told not to plant a few times and those that did not listen feel the effects now. Just imagine if a city the size of BKK runs out of tap water. That would really be bad.

They might have been told not plant, but what are they going to do for money???????? All the big shots in BKK have money these poor

people have none except what they get from selling their rice. so don't be so _ _ _ pid.

[halloween]

Yep all the bangkok elites are saying the hell with the farmers again. Or as always they do not care about them in the least little way.

Would it be better to let a city of nearly 10 million people run out of water, or to reduce a similar number's income? People DIE very rapidly without drinking water.

[robblok]

Seems the government thinks the same as I do consumer tap water before water for farmers. No tap water would be a big deal for everyone, rice there is still plenty in storage.

Too bad for the farmers but they were told not to plant a few times and those that did not listen feel the effects now. Just imagine if a city the size of BKK runs out of tap water. That would really be bad.

They might have been told not plant, but what are they going to do for money???????? All the big shots in BKK have money these poor

people have none except what they get from selling their rice. so don't be so _ _ _ pid.

Normal poor people have a right to tap water, this is not about Bangkok big shots but about normal tap water before wasteful use of water by farmers. They became farmers that means sometimes you can't farm and it has risks.

Personally I would not loose sleep if they tripled my water bill and build desalination plants. However there are plenty of poor people who would get hurt then. Its poor people vs poor people not rich vs poor. The poor people use the water machines on the street for water. Guess where that water comes from.

Its just unfair if farmers force these poor people to pay for expensive water so they can have their rice, its not like there is not enough rice already.

[dcutman]

This being a year for one of the strongest El Nino ever, and could effect Thailand for quite sometime. Whats plan B for next year if the rainy season is far below normal? I hope its not the same plan B they have for this year. Much of this ground water they are pumping now, will be gone and wasted on rice fields by then.

[robblok]

This being a year for one of the strongest El Nino ever, and could effect Thailand for quite sometime. Whats plan B for next year if the rainy season is far below normal? I hope its not the same plan B they have for this year. Much of this ground water they are pumping now, will be gone and wasted on rice fields by then.

Wonder how long it would take to build desalination plant and how much it would increase the cost of water. Might not be a bad idea to build one just in case. But then again.. i doubt it that they will build one.

[halloween]

This being a year for one of the strongest El Nino ever, and could effect Thailand for quite sometime. Whats plan B for next year if the rainy season is far below normal? I hope its not the same plan B they have for this year. Much of this ground water they are pumping now, will be gone and wasted on rice fields by then.

Wonder how long it would take to build desalination plant and how much it would increase the cost of water. Might not be a bad idea to build one just in case. But then again.. i doubt it that they will build one.

By the time they sorted the specs and put it out to tender, the need would be over.

[dcutman]

This being a year for one of the strongest El Nino ever, and could effect Thailand for quite sometime. Whats plan B for next year if the rainy season is far below normal? I hope its not the same plan B they have for this year. Much of this ground water they are pumping now, will be gone and wasted on rice fields by then.

Wonder how long it would take to build desalination plant and how much it would increase the cost of water. Might not be a bad idea to build one just in case. But then again.. i doubt it that they will build one.

Unfortunately a desalination plant needs to be close to a unlimited source of sea/ brackish water. Not much help for the parts of the country that are not.

My point being was, there is a better than good chance this drought will continue because of this El Nino event. Whats the plan for next year, other than hopping it rains? Ground water is a very finite, and IMHO should only be used in emergencies such as we are in and only for household use, not irrigating rice patties.

[marquis22]

why you forget the bleeding thais wasting all their water in songkran!!!

Are they still allowed to have 30 minute showers twice a day?

[sammygood]

did the PM not warn the farmers NOT to plant a crop this season ?