Chao Phraya river basin: Farmers told to brace for water scarcity

[webfact]

Farmers told to brace for water scarcity
Pratch Rujivanarom,
Monkolchawarat Tangmangmee
The Nation



Advised to dig ponds for rainwater as dam water will be channeled for taps

BANGKOK: -- A WATER expert has warned that there will be a scarcity of water for irrigation in the upcoming dry season as the rainy season is nearly over and the four key dams in the Chao Phraya River Basin were only 35 per cent full as of yesterday.

Of that water, only 11 per cent is available for consumption.

According to the Royal Irrigation Department (RID), there has been no inflow into the Pasak Jolasid Dam as of Monday, even though it has been releasing 880,000 cubic metres of water daily. Though the amount of water flowing into the Sirikit and Bhumibol Dams was higher than the outflow, the available water level at the two dams only stood at 17 per cent and 6 per cent, respectively.

The shortage of rain has been blamed for the unusually low water levels. Farmers are being encouraged to dig ponds to collect rainwater and opt for crops that require less irrigation, as water in the dams would be used for tap water first.

Royon Jitdon, director of the Hydro and Agro Informatics Institute, citing precipitation information, said rain should provide enough water for household consumption during the dry season, but it would not be sufficient for agriculture.

"This year's rainfall pattern is similar to 1987 with the Sirikit Dam and like 1998 with the Bhumibol Dam. Though rains are only expected to last until October, the volume of water in these two dams is considerably low, but I think it is enough for tap water production," he said.

Since most of the water will be channelled for household consumption, he said farmers could not rely on irrigation during the dry season between November and May next year.

"Farmers should dig ponds within their farms to stock rainwater for the dry season and change their plant-growing patterns," he advised.

Somwang Parasuksan, director of the Khwae Noi Bamrungdan Dam irrigation and maintenance department, also advised farmers to grow plants that consume less water, adding that the water-distribution plan during upcoming dry season would have to be discussed further.

"It appears that we will be able to store less water this year because the precipitation rate is less than average and the rain will not be continuous, so most of the rainwater will be absorbed in the soil rather than filling dams," Somwang said.

According to him, the average precipitation in the month of September around Khwae Noi Bamrungdan Dam is 983 millimetres; however, so far this month, it has only been 700 millimetres. On average, up to 1.6 billion cubic metres flows into this dam yearly.

Royon believes the absence of rain can be blamed on the severe El Nino phenomenon this year, though he said conditions should improve next year, as El Nino will be ending. Next year should see higher-than-average rainfall, he said.

Meanwhile, RID revealed that it and the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand were trying to save as much water as possible in the dams and that they would coordinate with the Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation for rain-making operations to fill up the dams.

RID further reported that 17 dams in the North, Northeast and Central regions currently hold less than 30 per cent of their maximum capacity. Of the dams, five are in the North, six each in the Northeast and Central region.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Farmers-told-to-brace-for-water-scarcity-30268442.html


-- The Nation 2015-09-09

[webfact]

PM orders water to be stocked up in anticipation of worse drought



BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha has ordered all government agencies dealing with water to dredge more wells and deepen klongs and to stock up water in anticipation of worse drought situation in the coming months.

As the rainy season is coming to an end soon, it appears that the level of water at the country’s major dams remains low and may not be sufficient to meet the demand of all sectors early next year.

Maj-Gen Veerachon Sukonthapatipark, the deputy government spokesman, said the prime minister had also instructed officials concerned to approach rice farmers and to ask for their cooperation to conserve water and to switch to plants which consume less water with the government supplying them with plant seeds and other forms of help.

The amount of usable water in the Chao Phraya river basin measured on September 8 stands at 2,023 million cubic metres which is about 2,000 million cubic metres less than last year.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/pm-orders-water-to-be-stocked-up-in-anticipation-of-worse-drought


-- Thai PBS 2015-09-09

[edwinchester]

"Though the amount of water flowing into the Sirikit and Bhumibol Dams was higher than the outflow, the available water level at the two dams only stood at 17 per cent and 6 per cent, respectively."

Those figures alone are of huge concern over the coming months.

Wasn't it only last month the news was reporting how successful the rainmaking flights were?

[jaywalker]

"Though the amount of water flowing into the Sirikit and Bhumibol Dams was higher than the outflow, the available water level at the two dams only stood at 17 per cent and 6 per cent, respectively."

Those figures alone are of huge concern over the coming months.

Wasn't it only last month the news was reporting how successful the rainmaking flights were?

Yep.

Here's the article.

Maj-Gen Sansern quoted the prime minister as praising the efforts of the rain-making teams for bringing the country through the worst drought.

[Lunchbob]

It would help if Army tractors could be available to help making berms and swales across the rice fields not only to conserve water, but make a place for other plants.

[ramrod711]

The shortage of rain has been blamed for the unusually low water levels. Farmers are being encouraged to dig ponds to collect rainwater and opt for crops that require less irrigation, as water in the dams would be used for tap water first.

The pressure is going to mount against the government, farmers will need aid of some kind and some will ignore warnings, plant rice and it will fail. Maybe the government could be proactive, have experts show the farmers what to grow and how. In the long term it might be a blessing to have diverse crops.

[Thian]

The shortage of rain has been blamed for the unusually low water levels. Farmers are being encouraged to dig ponds to collect rainwater and opt for crops that require less irrigation, as water in the dams would be used for tap water first.

The pressure is going to mount against the government, farmers will need aid of some kind and some will ignore warnings, plant rice and it will fail. Maybe the government could be proactive, have experts show the farmers what to grow and how. In the long term it might be a blessing to have diverse crops.

Yup, when we get salty drinkingwater in BKK then sure the government will have a problem.

Then even the rich guys can't wash their big Benz and that's a serious problem.

[kaorop]

What happened to the so called "cloud seeding" successes, someone was spouting on about a month or so ago?

[taichiplanet]

"Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha has ordered all government agencies dealing with water to dredge more wells and deepen klongs and to stock up water in anticipation of worse drought situation in the coming months."

Ummm, aren't dams supposed to be used to stock up on water?! If the water isn't there how can people stock up. And you are now telling people to do that at the end of the rainy session!

if you want to keep an eye on dam levels (seems to work better in Thai to see previous dates)

http://www.thaiwater.net/DATA/REPORT/php/rid_dam_1.php?lang=en

Edited September 9, 2015 by taichiplanet

[springheeled jack]

what happened to the monsoon weather forecast ? now the farmers are being told there will be a shortage of water again , a contradiction in terms ?

[kamahele]

So, where is our food going to come from if the farmers have limited water supply so those in homes can still have free flowing water. Need to put restrictions on home water usage.

[williamgeorgeallen]

did I read some article that said the rainy season was supposed to start this month? not sure where the writer got his information. I have a friend in the dam building business in Thailand. he now just spends his work time going to court as a witness over why this dam or that dam project failed to get completed. seriously, he tried to retire but he has several court cases on going and they keep offering him pay rises to stay on.

[Ulic]

Cancel Songkran now.

[ddavidovsky]

The water resource is only scarce in relation to the size of the population trying to consume it. It's a natural mechanism that will lead to a necessary slow down in population growth.

Everyone will have to have less in future. This is a start. Might as well get used to it.

[Thian]

In BKK they wash their cars at least once a week.

But Thailand should stop being a rice exporter if there is not enough water. They can grow other crops instead and rice only for domestic usage, no more export.

[ourmanflint]

this is good advice but should have been given three months ago.

[Thian]

They can also make the Chaopraya-delta more narrow so seawater can't come in that far. That way BKK will keep unsalted water.

[otherstuff1957]

So, where is our food going to come from if the farmers have limited water supply so those in homes can still have free flowing water. Need to put restrictions on home water usage.

Due to Yingluck's amazing foresight we have several years worth of rice in warehouses throughout Thailand.

Food won't be a problem. Water will.

[otherstuff1957]

This map shows the cumulative rainfall in Thailand from Jan 1 to July 31. White is normal, red is under normal, green/blue is above normal.

[Basil B]

It would help if Army tractors could be available to help making berms and swales across the rice fields not only to conserve water, but make a place for other plants.

While Thailand does indeed have a large number of conscripts who they have to equip and feed, kept in reserve just in case they are needed.

Also Thailand has produced more rice than it can sell that is going mouldy in warehouses.

So to engaged military units to help farmers to diversify to alternate crops does make a lot of sense, also such activity can be used to teach recruits another trade for when the military days are over.

[ozyjon]

I don't believe it,