Drought continues wreaking havoc in many Thai provinces

[webfact]

Drought continues wreaking havoc in many provinces

BANGKOK, 1 April 2016 (NNT) - Drought is prolonged in many provinces in Thailand while the water level of the Chao Phraya river is decreasing.

In Ang Thong, the provincial administration is urgently dredging many canals connecting natural water sources with the Bueng Klip Mek lake in an effort to combat drought. Many hundred households in Tambon Khlong Wua and nearby areas use water from the water sources for consumption. The provincial administration has instructed local administrative organizations to provide water for all areas in the province.

In Nong Bua Lamphu, the local people have lacked water for consumption since late February. Nakhon Sawan is another province hard hit by drought this year.

In Udon Thani, Commanding General of the 24th Military Circle Maj.Gen.Amnuay Chunnoneyang on Thursday presided over the project “Beautiful Canal, Clear Water.” The project dredges canals and improves natural water sources by getting rid of water hyacinth and weeds. The project is the province’s effort to tackle drought.

-- NNT 2016-04-01

[jerojero]

But, but, but.....the Agricultural Minister just announced there was enough water until July. He wouldn't lie. He's Thai.

[thesetat2013]

Drought! What drought? We were told not to worry and that their would be plenty of water until July. What are they going through so much trouble with this now?

[jamesbrock]

They're only just doing this now?!

I continue to be amazed at the gross incompetence from Thai authorities. Look at the date of the following news story...

11 May 2014 - Although many parts of the country have been battered by torrential rains in the past week, more than half of the country is still facing severe drought.

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation reported on Sunday that 46 provinces have been suffering from drought and locals are in need of immediate assistance. Source

Another story from September 2014, that I am unable to quote or link to, says Thailand was, back then, facing its worst drought in 50 years. 18 months ago...

As forecast back in 2014, annual accumulated rainfall in Thailand dipped below the 30-year average (1981-2010) for two consecutive years, 2014 and 2015, causing a significant depletion of water supply across the four major reservoirs. Given the 2,731 million cubic meters of useable water in these reservoirs, as of 13 March 2016, and the Royal Irrigation Department’s plan to release water a total of approximately 18-19 million cubic meters per day, the current water supply will last around 150 more days or until the end of July 2016.

The United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) expects that the severity of El Nino (considered the most severe episode in 65 years, as forecast) to gradually decline, and the climate to resume neutral conditions in the middle of 2016 (with a 50% probability). Therefore, there is a 50% probability that rainfall in Thailand will not resume its normal pattern, and the impact of the drought will expand further, encroaching the industrial, and tourism sectors, as well as the supply of water for human consumption...

Let's hope it doesn't come to that.

[clockman]

But Songkran in Chiang Mai. Will last seven days.! Sheer madness.

[Kabula]

Cancel the water festival, please.....

[Si Thea01]

Good heavy downpour in Loei yesterday, continued for most of the day and into the night. Still need a lot more as the dams and river are well down.

[wabothai]

Good heavy downpour in Loei yesterday, continued for most of the day and into the night. Still need a lot more as the dams and river are well down.

80 km west from Loei : lots of thunder, no drop of rain.

[likewise]

sadly enough as most of us know, Thai authorities just walk around with their heads up their asses and talk......,talk some more, hold meetings and more talk and some more meetings to come to the conclusion that; there's water enough till July, there is no water..., there might be enough water...... and so on.

In whatever profession here there are no real specialists here, people get their positions because they either buy it or know somebody who got them the position. Sad really but true. This goes from or bor tor, or bor jor, amphur, thesabaan to parliament........

The few Thais who want to make a change get laughed at by their peers or get stumped all over by the authorities, the odds are not stacked in their favour that's why so many just give up and return to the, "wait and see" attitude.

Then again the "laissez faire" attitude seems to be a world wide event; Belgium where bombers just walked in the airport without being checked, Paris, mass shootings in the USA,........

[thesetat2013]

They're only just doing this now?!

I continue to be amazed at the gross incompetence from Thai authorities. Look at the date of the following news story...

11 May 2014 - Although many parts of the country have been battered by torrential rains in the past week, more than half of the country is still facing severe drought.

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation reported on Sunday that 46 provinces have been suffering from drought and locals are in need of immediate assistance. Source

Another story from September 2014, that I am unable to quote or link to, says Thailand was, back then, facing its worst drought in 50 years. 18 months ago...

As forecast back in 2014, annual accumulated rainfall in Thailand dipped below the 30-year average (1981-2010) for two consecutive years, 2014 and 2015, causing a significant depletion of water supply across the four major reservoirs. Given the 2,731 million cubic meters of useable water in these reservoirs, as of 13 March 2016, and the Royal Irrigation Department’s plan to release water a total of approximately 18-19 million cubic meters per day, the current water supply will last around 150 more days or until the end of July 2016.

The United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) expects that the severity of El Nino (considered the most severe episode in 65 years, as forecast) to gradually decline, and the climate to resume neutral conditions in the middle of 2016 (with a 50% probability). Therefore, there is a 50% probability that rainfall in Thailand will not resume its normal pattern, and the impact of the drought will expand further, encroaching the industrial, and tourism sectors, as well as the supply of water for human consumption...

Let's hope it doesn't come to that.

Good points with those articles. Wish Thais had longer memories than us foreigners and remembered that this has been building up yearly with no action taken to help end it.

Unfortunately, that they only remember today and maipanrai the rest of it.

[KarenBravo]

But Songkran in Chiang Mai. Will last seven days.! Sheer madness.

I think you'll find that it's usually ten days.

[The Deerhunter]

sadly enough as most of us know, Thai authorities just walk around with their heads up their asses and talk......,talk some more, hold meetings and more talk and some more meetings to come to the conclusion that; there's water enough till July, there is no water..., there might be enough water...... and so on.

In whatever profession here there are no real specialists here, people get their positions because they either buy it or know somebody who got them the position. Sad really but true. This goes from or bor tor, or bor jor, amphur, thesabaan to parliament........

The few Thais who want to make a change get laughed at by their peers or get stumped all over by the authorities, the odds are not stacked in their favour that's why so many just give up and return to the, "wait and see" attitude.

Then again the "laissez faire" attitude seems to be a world wide event; Belgium where bombers just walked in the airport without being checked, Paris, mass shootings in the USA,........

Yes, but Belgium (Brussels anyway) has been a third world country for several decades now.

Regarding local water etc, I have been "banging-on" to my family here for over 2 years that we were building up to 2016 becoming a serious drought problem. We still have (some) water in storage but it is getting difficult. The shallow well we have for household and home garden use is suffering from a drop in water table level and reduced output. 6 months ago the pump could be run for hours, now only 10 to 20 mins before it stops on auto. I paid for 20,000 litres of extra storage in concrete tanks but filling them is becoming a problem. I have been promising to pay for a new deep well since late last year but family response has not born fruit yet (he tactfully explains). Lately, every day goes overcast and threatens rain but does not, so far. I have seen wet roads several kilos away to the south & east but nothing closer than 3km away, and then, in the wrong direction to influence our water table.

Fingers crossed for some decent downpours in a useful area in the next month or so, or we are in trouble.

[Ulic]

But, but, but.....the Agricultural Minister just announced there was enough water until July. He wouldn't lie. He's Thai.

Just a white lie, there is no water shortage as his house.

[Speedo1968]

To The Deerhunter - be careful not to 'dry - pump' your well by mistake, in the 'wrong' type of soils this can seal the well for good.

Is the well hand dug or machine drilled ?

Look for more water on your land - ( dousing / divining whichever word you prefer ).

If hand dug and you can get in to the well safely, take it down a few centimetres every year.

Let's hope for everyone that it does rain, although I think its time we started to believe in the facts around us as the years go by.

Good luck.

[Throatwobbler]

But Songkran in Chiang Mai. Will last seven days.! Sheer madness.

I think you'll find that it's usually ten days.

Shows that none of you live in Chiang mai.

[KarenBravo]

But Songkran in Chiang Mai. Will last seven days.! Sheer madness.

I think you'll find that it's usually ten days.

Shows that none of you live in Chiang mai.

Well....whatever is is, if it's more than one day, then, it's too many.

[johnatong]

But Songkran in Chiang Mai. Will last seven days.! Sheer madness.

I think you'll find that it's usually ten days.

Shows that none of you live in Chiang mai.

Well....whatever is is, if it's more than one day, then, it's too many.

How many Western cultural festivals/celebrations are you wanting banned?

Or does the bile only extend to Thai culture ?

[KarenBravo]

Errrm.....let me see.

Christmas and Easter for a start. Chinese New Year and the Festival of the Hungry Ghosts.

Thanksgiving and Halloween would be good.

In fact, the only holiday that should be kept is Loy Kratong.

You see? I don't discriminate.

[JohanB]

sadly enough as most of us know, Thai authorities just walk around with their heads up their asses and talk......,talk some more, hold meetings and more talk and some more meetings to come to the conclusion that; there's water enough till July, there is no water..., there might be enough water...... and so on.

In whatever profession here there are no real specialists here, people get their positions because they either buy it or know somebody who got them the position. Sad really but true. This goes from or bor tor, or bor jor, amphur, thesabaan to parliament........

The few Thais who want to make a change get laughed at by their peers or get stumped all over by the authorities, the odds are not stacked in their favour that's why so many just give up and return to the, "wait and see" attitude.

Then again the "laissez faire" attitude seems to be a world wide event; Belgium where bombers just walked in the airport without being checked, Paris, mass shootings in the USA,........

How right you are... but uoy're not political correct by your answer but youre absolutely correct...

[Khon Kaen Dave]

Nam Phong,60 kms from Udon.

No drought here,we have not been wreaked.Business as usual.Tap water in full supply,sprinklers for the farmers.No panic buying of bottled water,in fact the local lotus is up to its ass in the stuff,piled high outside.getting some sporadic rain now 2/4/ 16.?????