Feasibility study ordered for 2 projects to draw water from Salween and Mekong rivers

[webfact]

Feasibility study ordered for two projects to draw water from Salween and Mekong rivers for use



BANGKOK: -- The Water Resources and Royal Irrigation departments have been assigned by the national resources committee to conduct feasibility study of two mega projects to draw water from tributaries of the Salween and Mekong rivers for local consumption.

The two projects are estimated to cost 64 billion baht. One project entails the drawing of water from Nam Yuang, a tributary of Salween river, into the Bhumibol dam in Tak province which has the capacity to store up to 4,000 million cubic metres of water. Construction cost is estimated at about 50 billion baht.

The second project entails the drawing of water from Huay Luang in Nong Khai which is a tributary of Mekong river to feed about 300,000 rai of farmland in the Northeast and to fill up various reservoirs in the region. Construction cost is estimated at about 14 billion baht.

548 out of a total of 925 districts nationwide are expected to be affected by drought during the period of January-May, according to the Water Resources Department.

Bangkok consumes six million cubic metres of water a day supplied from the Chao Phraya river basin and Mae Klong river. Although water supply from the two sources will be sufficient to last through the drought period, rainfalls are predicted to become less from now on until May.

The two departments have sought cooperation from Bangkokians, especially households, to conserve water. Household water consumption accounts for 49 percent of water followed by industrial sector’s 32 percent and government sector’s 19 percent.

For the time being, there are 3,726 million cubic metres of water left in the country’s dams and reservoirs.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/feasibility-study-ordered-for-two-projects-to-draw-water-from-salween-and-mekong-rivers-for-use


-- Thai PBS 2016-01-13

[Chang_paarp]

These are the same people who protested the Chinese dams as they would affect the countries down river. Have they consulted with the other countries down river as to the how this will affect them?

[sebastion]

Feasibility studies are a nice litter earner. Mercedes all round.

[Srikcir]

The feasibility to draw water is purely an engineering issue. You collect it, hold it and divert it. And by the cost estimates and draw projections, already a done deal.

Less clear and perhaps not considered to any degree is the hydrology of the watershed to actually sustain a new drawdown without causing serious environment and economic damage to the region upstream and downstream. The government's approach to water managemtn such as with these two projects thus far appears to be a mindless socia-economic bent.Thus, well within the capability of the military.

[ginjag]

A few days ago the Mekong was reported to be well lower than normal at this time, and some provinces are suffering.

Why in hells name do they consider taking more off it.

Cambodia happy about it ??????

[halloween]

The feasibility to draw water is purely an engineering issue. You collect it, hold it and divert it. And by the cost estimates and draw projections, already a done deal.

Less clear and perhaps not considered to any degree is the hydrology of the watershed to actually sustain a new drawdown without causing serious environment and economic damage to the region upstream and downstream. The government's approach to water managemtn such as with these two projects thus far appears to be a mindless socia-economic bent.Thus, well within the capability of the military.

An attempt to supply water where it is needed is "a mindless socia-economic (sic) bent" , but only when everything you do is viewed negatively.

Edited January 13, 2016 by halloween

[Artisi]

Pie-in-the-sky, unless they are thinking of using lots and lots blue pipe to reticulate water all over Thailand. It never stops does it, one hair brained scheme after another, stay tuned for tomorrows announcement ................

[ksamuiguy]

Many countries in the world take water from rivers and lakes with no damage to downstream activities.

Water is taken based on source flow condition and is adjusted accordingly.

It's when the greed sets in that the problems occur. Usage must also be controlled based on the water stored and the source flow conditions. Everyone thinks water is an inexhaustible resource and they never appericate it until there is none. Properly controlled removal of water resources from rivers, streams and lakes solves many problems in many countries around the world.

The systems of control and monitoring is simple. Proper storage and distribution is more difficult, but the greed of users runes the whole system. soon more and more people want more and more water.

The source flow restrictions are now no longer in control as greed set in. The end result is the source flow in exceeded and the down stream people, users are adversely effected.

If the flow conditions and restrictions are adhered to there is enough water for every one, some days less water available, some days more flow which is stored for the low flow times.

Again greed causes the problems. There is a set amount of usable water on our planet. It all is eventually returned back in the form of rain and other natural phenomena.

Here on Samui I see water being wasted every day, washing vehicles, hoses running in the soi's, pipes leaking in many areas. No one seems to care except when there is no water.

More and more wells are being dug, and drilled, but there is no magic well under Samui, no rain, no filling of the aquifer, no water in the wells.

Just my rant on the waste of our most precious resource.