How bad is drought?

[elgenon]

I am currently in California taking care of business. Am planning on returning to Thailand in beginning of November. Will be in BKK, Cm and Patts with other trips as I think of them. Anyone guess if there will be water then in those 3 areas? The drought in Cali is bad but Thailand may be worse.

Please only replies relevant to question. Thanks all!

[Jdietz]

It may rain more than you'd like around that time as that is the peak of the rainy season.

[elgenon]

Thanks! How are conditions now?

We are happy here that an El Nino is forecast. My understanding is that when Cali gets an El Nino SE Asia doesn't get the rain. So I am asking how things are right now.

[Sophon]

The peak of the rainy season is in September, November is the beginning of the dry season and you are unlikely to see much rain.

Sophon

[craigt3365]

The peak of the rainy season is in September, November is the beginning of the dry season and you are unlikely to see much rain.

Sophon

I seem to remember a few years ago we had a major flood in November. I had to cancel my flight here because of it, and the airlines let me do so with no charge.

Weather patterns are changing, so getting harder and harder to predict.

OP: what's your worry about water? If just for daily living, there should be no problems. If for farming, it could be an issue.

[elgenon]

When I left in July I heard several areas in the North were without tap water (BMs were talking about brown water coming out of faucets) and the government was saying that soon BKK would have brackish water (salty). Water is life. When in Thailand I need showers. If bad, water bottlers would be affected too.

And yes, farmers were being told not to plant rice.

[villagefarang]

Here in Chiang Rai we got hammered the last couple of nights with rain thunder and lightning. Our rain started a little late but has made up for the slow start. Sorry but no one can tell you what conditions will be like when you arrive. As @craigt3365 said there have been November floods in the past.

It is a big country so there can be floods in one area and drought in another. Since you are looking at more than one destination anyway, just go to where the conditions are best at the time.

[elgenon]

Thanks VF. Thanks the kind of info I was looking for .That you guys got a storm. I think I wasn't clear enough in my posting.

I was pretty much wondering what has happened in the 1 1/2 months since i left. The warnings were pretty dire when i left.

[Gulfsailor]

Pattaya has been without any significant rain for months and is bone dry. But, as of Tuesday that will change. A depression is moving straight over Bangkok and will likely drop 300+ mm of rain in a two or three day period.

[villagefarang]

Historically there are some areas which are prone to drought due to their location and they are usually in the Isaan part of the country. Even when farmers are asked not to plant offseason rice crops there are relatively few isolated locations where people are without tap-water.

Where they are dependent on wells they are always at risk of the water table dropping or contaminants seeping in. Unless you are planning on staying somewhere very remote I can’t see you having any problems with water for normal use.

[Sophon]

The peak of the rainy season is in September, November is the beginning of the dry season and you are unlikely to see much rain.

Sophon

I seem to remember a few years ago we had a major flood in November. I had to cancel my flight here because of it, and the airlines let me do so with no charge.

Weather patterns are changing, so getting harder and harder to predict.

OP: what's your worry about water? If just for daily living, there should be no problems. If for farming, it could be an issue.

True, but that was not because of heavy rain in November but because the rain from September and October in the north had by then worked it's way down the rivers to Bangkok and the Central region.

We are having the effects of El Nino this year, and the rain here in Thailand is less than in a normal year. The predictions for the rest of the rainy season is for this to continue and the rainy season might well end sooner than normal. That could be wrong, of course, but since we are already in the middle of September I don't see much chance of that. In a normal year the rainy season winds down in October and is pretty much over in November, and nothing points to the rainy season being extended this year.

Sophon

Edited September 13, 2015 by Sophon

[Sophon]

Historically there are some areas which are prone to drought due to their location and they are usually in the Isaan part of the country. Even when farmers are asked not to plant offseason rice crops there are relatively few isolated locations where people are without tap-water.

Where they are dependent on wells they are always at risk of the water table dropping or contaminants seeping in. Unless you are planning on staying somewhere very remote I can’t see you having any problems with water for normal use.

Unfortunately the infrastructure in Pattaya (which is one of the places the OP mentions) is woefully inadequate for the amount of people living there. It's quite normal for the reservoirs to run dry towards the end of the dry season, and many people have to have water trucked in for their daily consumption. But since the OP is coming at the very beginning of the dry season, it should not be a problem for him.

Sophon

[craigt3365]

But we have had major rains in November and even into December. I can't remember if it was last year or the year before, all of Pattaya was flooded in the beginning on December. But yes, the monsoons tend to die off in mid October or so. This year has been extremely dry.

[KittenKongRedux]

OP: what's your worry about water? If just for daily living, there should be no problems. If for farming, it could be an issue.

Pattaya is within a couple of weeks of running out of water. Just take a look at the current state of the Mabprachan puddle lake, which supplies most of the water for the greater Pattaya area.

[villagefarang]

I guess that is it for Pattaya then. In a couple of weeks when they run out of water they will no doubt shut the place down.

[1FinickyOne]

In the north and Central regions we have been having some rain, more and less so, at times. It is so difficult to gauge because as it is tropical showers, it can rain heavy in one area and 2 km away have nothing. Hopefully there is enough to get some more water in the dams but I see no desperate shortage here that would effect any travel plans. Near my home in Central area there is enough rain that all is quite green and lovely… I just hope for more to get us through the hot season next year.

ps - I was on the hwy yesterday stopped at a red light and watched as a storm poured heavy rain 200 meters in front of my car - it took about a minute to move down the highway come over my car - - within about 5km drive it was sunny again… tough to gauge how much is actually accumulating.

[KittenKongRedux]

I guess that is it for Pattaya then. In a couple of weeks when they run out of water they will no doubt shut the place down.

My condo building was without water for about 6 hours once due to a pump failure. That was 6 hours that I don't care to repeat.

Would you want to frequent bars or restaurants where there is no water to wash the glasses and plates or to flush the toilets, or stay in a hotel or condo or house where there is no water in the bathroom or the kitchen or the pool? I wouldn't.

[MichaelJohn]

The water situation is very bad and most people are not accepting it.

We live next to a reservoir and it's empty; there is no water.

If you read the Thai press; The Nation quoted Bhumipol and Sirikit dams as being only 11% full. At this time of year they should be 50%+ getting towards the 80% they aim for.

Of course the next 3-4 weeks can change everything, although the Royal Immigration Dept state that if we get a "normal" rainfall over the rest of the rainy season there will not be enough water to get through the next dry season.

The consequences are potentially huge for next year; no drinking water, poor rice crops and the knock on effect to the economy.

In November I'm sure the rain will have passed and any drought/shortage that may come won't be until Feb/March onward (hoping of course that it doesn't happen due to the downpours we're going to get in the next month; finger's crossed).

[villagefarang]

I guess that is it for Pattaya then. In a couple of weeks when they run out of water they will no doubt shut the place down.

My condo building was without water for about 6 hours once due to a pump failure. That was 6 hours that I don't care to repeat.

Would you want to frequent bars or restaurants where there is no water to wash the glasses and plates or to flush the toilets, or stay in a hotel or condo or house where there is no water in the bathroom or the kitchen or the pool? I wouldn't.

I am in complete agreement. When the pools and soapy massage places go dry and they stop putting ice in your beer then it is time to abandon Pattaya for good.

If your water pump is prone to downtime, then do as the Thais do and put a plastic bin in your shower area as a backup.

[Sooo Upto Me]

It may rain more than you'd like around that time as that is the peak of the rainy season.

Incorrect. Sept - Oct is the peak rainy season. November onwards is dry cool season till end Feb.

[Pdavies99]

Pattaya area ie Chonburi is very very bad, about 10 days water left in reservoirs.

Not seen hardly any rain for about 6 months, even if it did rain it will take a long time to refill reservoirs as everywhere is concrete, so no ground soak!

Thailand as a whole is in a mess ref water, second & third rice crop cancelled this year, new planting for next year reduced to one off only.

Still no one cares really!! Pity the poor!

[55Jay]

Lam Takhong reservoir (before Korat) was reported at 18% capacity in June this year. Drove past the other day, still lots of beach front property out there with lovely green grass on it. Fingers crossed for the rest of September but looks like a tough year ahead regardless.

PS: Drove past "Lake" Maprachan in E. Pattaya and that's not looking very promising either.

Edited September 13, 2015 by 55Jay

[KittenKongRedux]

If your water pump is prone to downtime, then do as the Thais do and put a plastic bin in your shower area as a backup.

A big bucket wont help if there is nothing coming out of the tap.

[villagefarang]

If your water pump is prone to downtime, then do as the Thais do and put a plastic bin in your shower area as a backup.

A big bucket wont help if there is nothing coming out of the tap.

The idea is to fill it up before the tap goes dry. We have a good water supply in our village but we still store several days of water in an underground tank on the off chance the main water supply is down for maintenance or something.

[bazza40]

You are better off north, in Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai. Plenty of rain here, all the fields are green. Rivers all flowing well.

[chiang mai]

You are better off north, in Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai. Plenty of rain here, all the fields are green. Rivers all flowing well.

But water levels behind the dams is very very low.

[KittenKongRedux]

If your water pump is prone to downtime, then do as the Thais do and put a plastic bin in your shower area as a backup.

A big bucket wont help if there is nothing coming out of the tap.

The idea is to fill it up before the tap goes dry.

Thank you so much for your insight, without which I'm sure no one would have known how to use their bucket.

We have a good water supply in our village but we still store several days of water in an underground tank on the off chance the main water supply is down for maintenance or something.

You are missing the point. Pattaya is within a few weeks of the piped water supply drying up completely. That potentially means no piped water at all, and so nothing with which to fill your bucket or your underground tank.

Not to mention that personally I like to have heated water for showering and shaving rather than cold water. Try doing that with a bucket.

[elgenon]

If your water pump is prone to downtime, then do as the Thais do and put a plastic bin in your shower area as a backup.

A big bucket wont help if there is nothing coming out of the tap.

Will the hotels have buckets of water in their showers?

[Jdietz]

...

Not to mention that personally I like to have heated water for showering and shaving rather than cold water. Try doing that with a bucket.

[jacko45k]

Well a good thunderstorm in the Pattaya area last night may have helped slightly.

But judging by the lake much more needed.