Thais urged to conserve water due to lower rainfall

[webfact]

Thais urged to conserve water due to lower rainfall

BANGKOK, 8 October 2015 (NNT) - The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives has urged everyone to conserve water, as recent rainfall has been concentrated downstream of major dams.

The Cabinet recently approved measures developed by the ministry to deal with the water shortage. Permanent Secretary of Agriculture and Cooperatives Teerapat Prayoonsit revealed that Thailand received only six billion cubic meters of rainwater last year, falling short of the annual average of 10 billion cubic meters.

Most of the recent rainfall has taken place over low-lying areas where there are no dams. Therefore, rainwater could not retained and eventually flowed out to sea.

The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) has estimated that there is currently 3,700 cubic meters of water for domestic consumption and ecosystems.

This water will also be used to prevent saltwater intrusion. Dams will only provide water to irrigate farmlands when officials deem there is enough water for agricultural use.


-- NNT 2015-10-08

[Thian]

http://www.google.co.th/maps/place/Bangkok/@13.6738888,100.5874461,11922m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x311d6032280d61f3:0x10100b25de24820

If you look at the chao praya closely at the Yan nawa you see there's a loop in the river with a small canal to shortcut the loop.

Why not close that loop with a dam and only use that canal which is much less wide it seems.

By doing this the waterflow in the canal will increase so no salty water can come upstream.

Problem solved?

[Usernames]

Conserve water. I'm sure they don't mean ME! That's for the neighbors down the street.

[hutchings1963]

Wait till April then you will see all the water being thrown every where,i say ban it but come on this is Thailand.

[sawadee1947]

my first visit in Thailand was 1975. At that time people could tell me according the calender when rain season will start. And there was a lot of rain fall.

But today we have to suffer from climate change. Less rain.

So our famous PM told the people in Isaan to change from growing rice to other crops (potatoes?). Good advise if there would be support by Min. of Agriculture or even the King's organisations.

And also...........no plans at all to produce more water (see Singapoor: excellent)

[farangmick]

3,700 cubic metres of water won't go far shared between 65,000,000 people. I shall do my bit though. I was about to get another glass of water, but I'll have a beer instead.

[Thian]

my first visit in Thailand was 1975. At that time people could tell me according the calender when rain season will start. And there was a lot of rain fall.

But today we have to suffer from climate change. Less rain.

So our famous PM told the people in Isaan to change from growing rice to other crops (potatoes?). Good advise if there would be support by Min. of Agriculture or even the King's organisations.

And also...........no plans at all to produce more water (see Singapoor: excellent)

It rains almost every day in Singapore, and drinking water is extreme expensive there. Almost the same price as coca cola.

So it was the Generals fault that the climate has changed?

[waldroj]

Three things that should have been done ages ago!

1. Increase the price of water (especially in BKK), immediately. That will make the locals think about its value.

2. Ensure industry uses water saving technology and recycling where possible.

3. Make hotels and other accommodation establishments install water-saving shower heads and dual-flush toilet cisterns.

A dilemma for Thailand is that it needs to encourage more tourists to visit, yet tourists are notorious for wasting water! Many tourists from Europe or eastern USA (where water is so abundant) would simply not be aware of the need to conserve it.

TAT needs to get involved with an awareness campaign aimed at all incoming tourists. I’m sure they could put a more positive spin of it than the RID!

Another measure to consider may be to restrict hydro-power generation at dams where water levels are critical.

It’s a pity that Cabinet has only recently approved measures developed by the ministry to deal with the water shortage. That is just as culpable as the release of water from dams at the beginning of last year’s rainy season by the Yingluck government.

[tominbkk]

Close the golf courses. That will show me officials are serious about conserving water.

[sawadee1947]

my first visit in Thailand was 1975. At that time people could tell me according the calender when rain season will start. And there was a lot of rain fall.

But today we have to suffer from climate change. Less rain.

So our famous PM told the people in Isaan to change from growing rice to other crops (potatoes?). Good advise if there would be support by Min. of Agriculture or even the King's organisations.

And also...........no plans at all to produce more water (see Singapoor: excellent)

It rains almost every day in Singapore, and drinking water is extreme expensive there. Almost the same price as coca cola.

So it was the Generals fault that the climate has changed?

I like your humour. Now the question: what is better? No water or expensive water?

What I want to tell you is that Singapore gets drinking water out of waste water and in addition out of sea water (big plants there). When the contract with Malaysia runs out in a few years, Singapore will be independent with water supply by more than 90%. That is what I expect from any Thai government. Care for people, not giving advice as described

[trogers]

Three things that should have been done ages ago!

1. Increase the price of water (especially in BKK), immediately. That will make the locals think about its value.

2. Ensure industry uses water saving technology and recycling where possible.

3. Make hotels and other accommodation establishments install water-saving shower heads and dual-flush toilet cisterns.

A dilemma for Thailand is that it needs to encourage more tourists to visit, yet tourists are notorious for wasting water! Many tourists from Europe or eastern USA (where water is so abundant) would simply not be aware of the need to conserve it.

TAT needs to get involved with an awareness campaign aimed at all incoming tourists. Im sure they could put a more positive spin of it than the RID!

Another measure to consider may be to restrict hydro-power generation at dams where water levels are critical.

Its a pity that Cabinet has only recently approved measures developed by the ministry to deal with the water shortage. That is just as culpable as the release of water from dams at the beginning of last years rainy season by the Yingluck government.

The total water saved from your points above cannot even scratch the volumes of water conserved by shutting down all Turkish baths and spas countrywide...

[Gonsalviz]

Been raining for a week in Kalasin.

[springheeled jack]

why don't they build more dams concentrated in areas where they are needed the most,catchments are necessary in low lying areas to avoid runoffs too much rainwater is lost . this is something which should have been dealt with years ago .

[billd766]

my first visit in Thailand was 1975. At that time people could tell me according the calender when rain season will start. And there was a lot of rain fall.

But today we have to suffer from climate change. Less rain.

So our famous PM told the people in Isaan to change from growing rice to other crops (potatoes?). Good advise if there would be support by Min. of Agriculture or even the King's organisations.

And also...........no plans at all to produce more water (see Singapoor: excellent)

How will Singapore produce more water? Desalination perhaps? However Singapore only has to distribute it over an area of 720 km2 whereas Thailand has to distribute over an area more that 700 times larger and to a population 13 times the size of Singapore.

Desalination is expensive and Singapore can probably afford it considering the small amount of extra infrastructure required.

The extra infrastructure involved for Thailand would simply bankrupt the country. Have you any idea of the distance between BKK and Nong Khai or how much piping would be required, not to mention the hundreds of pumping stations and the consumption of electricity required to run them? The same would apply from BKK to CM and CR. Then think how much will be required to run pipes across the country as well.

Many years ago a PM called Chavalit Yongchaiyudh proposed that giant tunnels should be dug under ALL of Issan and connected to the Mekong river so that there would always be water in the north east. It never occurred to him that as soon as the gate was opened to fill the tunnels the Mekong would simply disappear until the tunnels were full. He never thought that the Mekong also serves Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam and that for a period of time they would have NO water.

Thailand has NO control over the amount of water coming down the Mekong as that is initially controlled by China followed by Laos.

From Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore

Singapore has a population of 5.535,000 and an area of approximately 720 km2. It is entirely surrounded by water.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thailand

Thailand on the other hand has a population of 67,091,120 and an area of approximately 513,120 km2. It is not completely surrounded by water unless you count the rivers on the borders as water.

Canh you explain to me how Thailand can make literally billions of cu3 of water. I would like to know how easy it is?

[billd766]

why don't they build more dams concentrated in areas where they are needed the most,catchments are necessary in low lying areas to avoid runoffs too much rainwater is lost . this is something which should have been dealt with years ago .

They can do that but from the day that the dam is announced to its completion can be as long as 10 years plus 2 or 3 years more to fill it up depending on its size.

[ratcatcher]

http://www.google.co.th/maps/place/Bangkok/@13.6738888,100.5874461,11922m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x311d6032280d61f3:0x10100b25de24820

If you look at the chao praya closely at the Yan nawa you see there's a loop in the river with a small canal to shortcut the loop.

Why not close that loop with a dam and only use that canal which is much less wide it seems.

By doing this the waterflow in the canal will increase so no salty water can come upstream.

Problem solved?

Doesn't seem a bad idea, but where would you close the main stream and how would ships get to Klong Toey docks?

[sawadee1947]

my first visit in Thailand was 1975. At that time people could tell me according the calender when rain season will start. And there was a lot of rain fall.

But today we have to suffer from climate change. Less rain.

So our famous PM told the people in Isaan to change from growing rice to other crops (potatoes?). Good advise if there would be support by Min. of Agriculture or even the King's organisations.

And also...........no plans at all to produce more water (see Singapoor: excellent)

How will Singapore produce more water? Desalination perhaps? However Singapore only has to distribute it over an area of 720 km2 whereas Thailand has to distribute over an area more that 700 times larger and to a population 13 times the size of Singapore.

Desalination is expensive and Singapore can probably afford it considering the small amount of extra infrastructure required.

The extra infrastructure involved for Thailand would simply bankrupt the country. Have you any idea of the distance between BKK and Nong Khai or how much piping would be required, not to mention the hundreds of pumping stations and the consumption of electricity required to run them? The same would apply from BKK to CM and CR. Then think how much will be required to run pipes across the country as well.

Many years ago a PM called Chavalit Yongchaiyudh proposed that giant tunnels should be dug under ALL of Issan and connected to the Mekong river so that there would always be water in the north east. It never occurred to him that as soon as the gate was opened to fill the tunnels the Mekong would simply disappear until the tunnels were full. He never thought that the Mekong also serves Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam and that for a period of time they would have NO water.

Thailand has NO control over the amount of water coming down the Mekong as that is initially controlled by China followed by Laos.

From Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore

Singapore has a population of 5.535,000 and an area of approximately 720 km2. It is entirely surrounded by water.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thailand

Thailand on the other hand has a population of 67,091,120 and an area of approximately 513,120 km2. It is not completely surrounded by water unless you count the rivers on the borders as water.

Canh you explain to me how Thailand can make literally billions of cu3 of water. I would like to know how easy it is?

yes, we are talking about desalination.

If you never think about it and never conduct a fesibility study I agree with you. However you can't cry about the costs when it comes to shortages with water.

And also you have to set priorities! Weigh by yourself: to have some new useless subs or fresh and clean water?

It has to do with a martial government. Everywhere in the world these people want to have new (and expensice) weapons. So here.

And I mentioned Singapore because they show you how to proceed. From a poor undeveloped country to a financial hub and important harbour.

If you look to Israel or Egypt: They built water pipelines into the desert.

I'm not saying to supply desalined water to whole Thailand but there where it is possible.

And you forgot the point to use waste water as a said they do in Singapore.

You can't compare those 2 countries but - what I missed in your quote - you can learn!

Have a nice day

[sawadee1947]

my first visit in Thailand was 1975. At that time people could tell me according the calender when rain season will start. And there was a lot of rain fall.

But today we have to suffer from climate change. Less rain.

So our famous PM told the people in Isaan to change from growing rice to other crops (potatoes?). Good advise if there would be support by Min. of Agriculture or even the King's organisations.

And also...........no plans at all to produce more water (see Singapoor: excellent)

How will Singapore produce more water? Desalination perhaps? However Singapore only has to distribute it over an area of 720 km2 whereas Thailand has to distribute over an area more that 700 times larger and to a population 13 times the size of Singapore.

Desalination is expensive and Singapore can probably afford it considering the small amount of extra infrastructure required.

The extra infrastructure involved for Thailand would simply bankrupt the country. Have you any idea of the distance between BKK and Nong Khai or how much piping would be required, not to mention the hundreds of pumping stations and the consumption of electricity required to run them? The same would apply from BKK to CM and CR. Then think how much will be required to run pipes across the country as well.

Many years ago a PM called Chavalit Yongchaiyudh proposed that giant tunnels should be dug under ALL of Issan and connected to the Mekong river so that there would always be water in the north east. It never occurred to him that as soon as the gate was opened to fill the tunnels the Mekong would simply disappear until the tunnels were full. He never thought that the Mekong also serves Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam and that for a period of time they would have NO water.

Thailand has NO control over the amount of water coming down the Mekong as that is initially controlled by China followed by Laos.

From Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore

Singapore has a population of 5.535,000 and an area of approximately 720 km2. It is entirely surrounded by water.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thailand

Thailand on the other hand has a population of 67,091,120 and an area of approximately 513,120 km2. It is not completely surrounded by water unless you count the rivers on the borders as water.

Canh you explain to me how Thailand can make literally billions of cu3 of water. I would like to know how easy it is?

came in just today.......

underlines my thread !!!

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/861628-prayut-calls-for-water-plan/

[billd766]

my first visit in Thailand was 1975. At that time people could tell me according the calender when rain season will start. And there was a lot of rain fall.

But today we have to suffer from climate change. Less rain.

So our famous PM told the people in Isaan to change from growing rice to other crops (potatoes?). Good advise if there would be support by Min. of Agriculture or even the King's organisations.

And also...........no plans at all to produce more water (see Singapoor: excellent)

How will Singapore produce more water? Desalination perhaps? However Singapore only has to distribute it over an area of 720 km2 whereas Thailand has to distribute over an area more that 700 times larger and to a population 13 times the size of Singapore.

Desalination is expensive and Singapore can probably afford it considering the small amount of extra infrastructure required.

The extra infrastructure involved for Thailand would simply bankrupt the country. Have you any idea of the distance between BKK and Nong Khai or how much piping would be required, not to mention the hundreds of pumping stations and the consumption of electricity required to run them? The same would apply from BKK to CM and CR. Then think how much will be required to run pipes across the country as well.

Many years ago a PM called Chavalit Yongchaiyudh proposed that giant tunnels should be dug under ALL of Issan and connected to the Mekong river so that there would always be water in the north east. It never occurred to him that as soon as the gate was opened to fill the tunnels the Mekong would simply disappear until the tunnels were full. He never thought that the Mekong also serves Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam and that for a period of time they would have NO water.

Thailand has NO control over the amount of water coming down the Mekong as that is initially controlled by China followed by Laos.

From Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore

Singapore has a population of 5.535,000 and an area of approximately 720 km2. It is entirely surrounded by water.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thailand

Thailand on the other hand has a population of 67,091,120 and an area of approximately 513,120 km2. It is not completely surrounded by water unless you count the rivers on the borders as water.

Can you explain to me how Thailand can make literally billions of cu3 of water. I would like to know how easy it is?

came in just today.......

underlines my thread !!!

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/861628-prayut-calls-for-water-plan/

I read that but you didn't answer my question as usual.

Where will the water come from and what will the cost be?

[halloween]

Three things that should have been done ages ago!

1. Increase the price of water (especially in BKK), immediately. That will make the locals think about its value.

2. Ensure industry uses water saving technology and recycling where possible.

3. Make hotels and other accommodation establishments install water-saving shower heads and dual-flush toilet cisterns.

A dilemma for Thailand is that it needs to encourage more tourists to visit, yet tourists are notorious for wasting water! Many tourists from Europe or eastern USA (where water is so abundant) would simply not be aware of the need to conserve it.

TAT needs to get involved with an awareness campaign aimed at all incoming tourists. I’m sure they could put a more positive spin of it than the RID!

Another measure to consider may be to restrict hydro-power generation at dams where water levels are critical.

It’s a pity that Cabinet has only recently approved measures developed by the ministry to deal with the water shortage. That is just as culpable as the release of water from dams at the beginning of last year’s rainy season by the Yingluck government.

After you increase the price of water, will that price be applied to all Thais, or "especially" to the BKK "elite"?

[sawadee1947]

my first visit in Thailand was 1975. At that time people could tell me according the calender when rain season will start. And there was a lot of rain fall.

But today we have to suffer from climate change. Less rain.

So our famous PM told the people in Isaan to change from growing rice to other crops (potatoes?). Good advise if there would be support by Min. of Agriculture or even the King's organisations.

And also...........no plans at all to produce more water (see Singapoor: excellent)

How will Singapore produce more water? Desalination perhaps? However Singapore only has to distribute it over an area of 720 km2 whereas Thailand has to distribute over an area more that 700 times larger and to a population 13 times the size of Singapore.

Desalination is expensive and Singapore can probably afford it considering the small amount of extra infrastructure required.

The extra infrastructure involved for Thailand would simply bankrupt the country. Have you any idea of the distance between BKK and Nong Khai or how much piping would be required, not to mention the hundreds of pumping stations and the consumption of electricity required to run them? The same would apply from BKK to CM and CR. Then think how much will be required to run pipes across the country as well.

Many years ago a PM called Chavalit Yongchaiyudh proposed that giant tunnels should be dug under ALL of Issan and connected to the Mekong river so that there would always be water in the north east. It never occurred to him that as soon as the gate was opened to fill the tunnels the Mekong would simply disappear until the tunnels were full. He never thought that the Mekong also serves Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam and that for a period of time they would have NO water.

Thailand has NO control over the amount of water coming down the Mekong as that is initially controlled by China followed by Laos.

From Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore

Singapore has a population of 5.535,000 and an area of approximately 720 km2. It is entirely surrounded by water.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thailand

Thailand on the other hand has a population of 67,091,120 and an area of approximately 513,120 km2. It is not completely surrounded by water unless you count the rivers on the borders as water.

Can you explain to me how Thailand can make literally billions of cu3 of water. I would like to know how easy it is?

came in just today.......

underlines my thread !!!

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/861628-prayut-calls-for-water-plan/

I read that but you didn't answer my question as usual.

Where will the water come from and what will the cost be?

well, you will see. There will be a fesibility study probably. And then it's time to decide how far the pipelines might go from the coastline....It is not up to you and me to decide or talk about costs. As I said: what is more important? to have new subs or drinking water for everybody. Desalination and plants at the rivers. And a change in agriculture.

Why you are so ignorant???

There is a saying: Time will tell.....

[halloween]

well, you will see. There will be a fesibility study probably. And then it's time to decide how far the pipelines might go from the coastline....It is not up to you and me to decide or talk about costs. As I said: what is more important? to have new subs or drinking water for everybody. Desalination and plants at the rivers. And a change in agriculture.

Why you are so ignorant???

There is a saying: Time will tell.....

Advocating the building of hugely expensive, energy hungry plants to produce very expensive water in a country that usually has fresh water sufficient to allow mass production of a water-hungry low value crop seems more than a little silly. Two cheaper options immediately come to mind for times of shortage, building more storage dams (and keeping idiot politicians away from decisions on storage levels), and reducing the usage on rice farming.

Perhaps you should look at the Australian experience, with no less than 3 white elephants producing nothing but maintenance bills.

BTW I operated 8 R.O. trains for around 15 years at Bayswater P.S, NSW.

[speedtripler]

I'm going to have a nice long shower after reading this thread...

Until songkran /water wastage idiots festival is cancelled I will not be making any effort to conserve water in Thailand...

[sawadee1947]

I'm going to have a nice long shower after reading this thread...

Until songkran /water wastage idiots festival is cancelled I will not be making any effort to conserve water in Thailand...

Actually you are right. It's all about mismanagement (or better NO management)

Enjoy your shower, I will jump into my pool.....

[sawadee1947]

well, you will see. There will be a fesibility study probably. And then it's time to decide how far the pipelines might go from the coastline....It is not up to you and me to decide or talk about costs. As I said: what is more important? to have new subs or drinking water for everybody. Desalination and plants at the rivers. And a change in agriculture.

Why you are so ignorant???

There is a saying: Time will tell.....

Advocating the building of hugely expensive, energy hungry plants to produce very expensive water in a country that usually has fresh water sufficient to allow mass production of a water-hungry low value crop seems more than a little silly. Two cheaper options immediately come to mind for times of shortage, building more storage dams (and keeping idiot politicians away from decisions on storage levels), and reducing the usage on rice farming.

Perhaps you should look at the Australian experience, with no less than 3 white elephants producing nothing but maintenance bills.

BTW I operated 8 R.O. trains for around 15 years at Bayswater P.S, NSW.

again:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/861628-prayut-calls-for-water-plan/

[billd766]

How will Singapore produce more water? Desalination perhaps? However Singapore only has to distribute it over an area of 720 km2 whereas Thailand has to distribute over an area more that 700 times larger and to a population 13 times the size of Singapore.

Desalination is expensive and Singapore can probably afford it considering the small amount of extra infrastructure required.

The extra infrastructure involved for Thailand would simply bankrupt the country. Have you any idea of the distance between BKK and Nong Khai or how much piping would be required, not to mention the hundreds of pumping stations and the consumption of electricity required to run them? The same would apply from BKK to CM and CR. Then think how much will be required to run pipes across the country as well.

Many years ago a PM called Chavalit Yongchaiyudh proposed that giant tunnels should be dug under ALL of Issan and connected to the Mekong river so that there would always be water in the north east. It never occurred to him that as soon as the gate was opened to fill the tunnels the Mekong would simply disappear until the tunnels were full. He never thought that the Mekong also serves Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam and that for a period of time they would have NO water.

Thailand has NO control over the amount of water coming down the Mekong as that is initially controlled by China followed by Laos.

From Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore

Singapore has a population of 5.535,000 and an area of approximately 720 km2. It is entirely surrounded by water.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thailand

Thailand on the other hand has a population of 67,091,120 and an area of approximately 513,120 km2. It is not completely surrounded by water unless you count the rivers on the borders as water.

Can you explain to me how Thailand can make literally billions of cu3 of water. I would like to know how easy it is?

came in just today.......

underlines my thread !!!

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/861628-prayut-calls-for-water-plan/

I read that but you didn't answer my question as usual.

Where will the water come from and what will the cost be?

well, you will see. There will be a fesibility study probably. And then it's time to decide how far the pipelines might go from the coastline....It is not up to you and me to decide or talk about costs. As I said: what is more important? to have new subs or drinking water for everybody. Desalination and plants at the rivers. And a change in agriculture.

Why you are so ignorant???

There is a saying: Time will tell.....

You still haven't answered my question and now you are calling me ignorant as well. I know that it is not up to you and me to decide the costs. However the submarines at 36 Bn baht are just a drop in the ocean.

A link for you

https://www.quora.com/How-much-does-a-water-desalination-plant-cost

A typical large scale desalination plant produces 100,000 cubic meters of water per day. Assuming a per capita consumption of 300 liters per day, this equates to 300,000 people. The installed cost of desalination plants is approximately $1m for every 1,000 cubic meters per day of installed capacity. Therefore, a large scale desalination plant serving 300,000 people typically costs in the region of $100 million. The costs of infrastructure to distribute water must be added to this.

To cover just BKK alone with perhaps 9,000,000 people would cost around B3Bn $dollars without any infrastructure costs added on or at 35 baht/1USD over 1 Tn baht and that is for BKK alone.

Now let us talk about submarines, ignorance and research shall we?

36 Bn baht vs over 1 trillion baht.

ps Google is your friend IF you want to do some research before you come up with silly ideas.

[billd766]

I'm going to have a nice long shower after reading this thread...

Until songkran /water wastage idiots festival is cancelled I will not be making any effort to conserve water in Thailand...

We ALWAYS conserve water up in rural Thailand.

Also Songkran is celebrated the traditional way up here.

[White Christmas13]

http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/AG.LND.PRCP.MM

[billd766]

http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/AG.LND.PRCP.MM

Is that across the whole of Thailand as an average as the south of Thailand gets more rain that the north?

Also the north of Thailand supplies BKK but the south does not.