Businesses calls on Thai govt to raise water fees for heavy users

[webfact]

Businesses Calls on Government to Raise Water Fees for Heavy Users
BY RENE EMERY



BANGKOK: -- Thailand’s drought conditions have resulted in the private sector asking the government to increase tap water fees for heavy users. Factories and households that use excessive water in April are being targeted in the petition.

The proposal is an attempt to curb water usage ahead of the Songkran festival. The festival requires massive amounts of water, and the private sector fears that unless water usage is curbed, the festival may not be a success.

Twatchai Yongkittikul, adviser to the Thai Bankers’ Association, states that the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) asked for higher fees yesterday. Fees will potentially be assessed to factories and households that use more water in April 2016 than they used in April 2015.

Full story: https://ethailand.com/business-news/businesses-calls-on-government-to-raise-water-fees-for-heavy-users/1865/

-- eThailand 2016-03-24

[canuckamuck]

The private sector fears that unless water usage is curbed, the festival may not be a success

Really, this is the fear?

[jamesbrock]

Running headlong into disaster and all they're worried about is the stupid water-fight?

[jaywalker]

"Twatchai Yongkittikul, adviser to the Thai Bankers’ Association, states that the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) asked for higher fees yesterday."

Am I the only one that thinks Twatchai is a fitting name for many in officialdom?

[chainarong]

Ignoring the comment about Songkran, the idea of user pays is generally the norm in most countries, so what's different about Thailand , who, we are lead to believe is always in drought mode, it is only poorly managed , OZ outback 12mm a year , would gratefully receive the same amount as Thailand gets, user pay's is one way to conserve water ................................................

Edited March 24, 2016 by chainarong

[NongKhaiKid]

The festival REQUIRES massive amounts of water !

To hell with the consequences let's ensure no money is lost now, the future can take care of itself.

[tuanku]

Top 6 industry in order of water usage. [source http://news.thomasnet.com/imt/2012/04/10/down-the-drain-industry-water-use]

1. Fruit and vegetable farming; e.g.A single 5 lb. bag of refined white sugar uses about 88 gallons of water,

2. Power generation, 95 liters of water to produce one kilowatt-hour of electricity

3. The textile industry, 2,900 gallons of water to produce a single pair of jeans.

4. Meat production. 29 percent of the total water footprint of the agricultural sector in the world is related to the production of animal products.

5. Beverage industry. 180 and 328 gallons of water to produce a 2-liter bottle of soda, 20 gallons of water to make a pint of beer and nearly 37 gallons of water to produce the ingredients to make a single cup of coffee,

6. Automotive industry. about 39,000 gallons of water to produce the average domestic car, including the tires.

Bankers use relatively little water other than in washing their hands of responsibility for financial crises, but they do create a lot of hot air.

Mr <deleted>..... is arguing to increase costs, and therefore prices in these 6 key economic areas in order to facilitate Songkran and make it successful. With this depth of analysis i am surprised he isn't a top Government advisor on the economy, Oh, hang on, perhaps he is.

[Srikcir]

Fees will potentially be assessed to factories and households that use more water in April 2016 than they used in April 2015.

So if users had excessive water usage in April 2015 and didn't exceed it in April 2016, they won't pay any fees. Thereby removing any incentive to reduce usage in 2016. Furthermore, there can be a number of legitimate reasons that water usage needs to be increased in 2016 compared to 2015.

The best policy is to simply raise water fees across the board keyed to factory, commercial and residential usage to encourage conservation. Users might even be rewarded with a discount should they reduce their 2016 usage compared to 2015 usage.

[wabothai]

The festival REQUIRES massive amounts of water !

To hell with the consequences let's ensure no money is lost now, the future can take care of itself.

This is called: Kobcarnishism

[elgordo38]

Running headlong into disaster and all they're worried about is the stupid water-fight?

Cancelling the water fight might make more sense. Opps sorry forgot where I was for a second.

[jaywalker]

Running headlong into disaster and all they're worried about is the stupid water-fight?

Cancelling the water fight might make more sense. Opps sorry forgot where I was for a second.

At least cut it back to a 2 day event in Pattaya. That's been said for eons though.

[nakhonandy]

To be fair the amount of water used during Songkran is literally a drop in the ocean compared to heavy industry, Agri business etc.

However cutting it all back to the original 3 days 13 - 15 would be good,

in Jomtien 13 - 19 getting soaked everyday is a pain.