Officials dodge pipeline update
With the island’s three main reservoirs collectively 92.2% full, the Phuket Provincial Water Resources Subcommittee met last week to discuss options for dealing with any potential water shortages in the coming ‘dry season’.
The aim of the meeting, held at Phuket Provincial Hall on Dec 6, was to discuss strategies “to support the drought situation and lack of rain during 2024 through the Thai Water Plan”, said an official report of the meeting.
Leading the meeting was Phuket Vice Governor Amnuay Pinsuwan, joined by Sukrit Klinson, Manager of the Provincial Waterworks Authority, Phuket Branch, and Phuket Irrigation Office Director Krirksak Leenanon, as well as the heads of a variety of government agencies.
The volume of water in all three main reservoirs in Phuket ‒ Bang Wat reservoir in Kathu, Bang Neow Dum reservoir in Srisoonthorn and Khlong Kata reservoir in Chalong ‒ totalled 18.5 million cubic metres as of Oct 31, said the official report.
The reserves marked 85.92% of their full combined capacity of 21.53mn cubic metres, the report added.
However, the numbers given were despite the Phuket Irrigation Office itself reporting that as of Dec 1 the three reservoirs were collectively 92.2% full ‒ with Bang Wad holding 10.04mn cubic metres of water (98.4% of its 10.2mn cubic metre capacity); Bang Neow Dum holding 6.76mn cubic metres (94.09% of its 7.19mn cubic metre capacity) and Klong Kata holding 3.05mn cubic metres ( 73.7% of its 4.14mn cubic metre capacity).
Regardless, the committee focussed on dealing with any shortages that may occur in the coming months, with special recognition given to Phuket entering its ‘tourist season’.
“If an El Niño situation occurs [sic], the reservoir of concern is Khlong Kata Reservoir In Chalong, which serves Rawai and Karon subdistricts,” the official report noted.
“Local agencies have been asked to help monitor the water situation. And this period has entered the tourist season. More tourists will travel to Phuket. Water must be managed better because of the image of Phuket province [sic],” the report added.
The Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO) has prepared vehicles and equipment to help people who suffer water shortages every year, including helping by having “water pumped from various water reservoirs and delivering it to people who request it” the report said.
“The key issue is solving the short-term problem over the next four to five months. The goal is to prevent a lack of water for consumption. The PWA must keep it in reserve for use during the dry season,” the report added, without attributing the quote to any particular person.
While the report of the meeting focussed on the standard, everyyear “preparations” for dealing with mass water shortages on the island, it only gave a mention of the water-supply pipeline from Phang Nga to Phuket that is supposed to be under construction.
“As for solving long-term problems, the Provincial Waterworks Authority has created a construction project to improve and expand the Provincial Waterworks Authority network,” the report said.
Phase 1 of the project is to cost B3.2bn, while Phase 2, feeding the water from Phang Nga to Mai Khao, is to cost B1.4bn, the report noted.
“The project has already passed the Cabinet. As for future planning, dredging may be required to store water reserves to full potential. If it rains, the water can be diverted and stored as monkey cheeks [smaller weirs and other water-holding areas] to be raw water for the Provincial Waterworks Authority to use further,” the report said.
No other details on the Phang Nga water-supply project were given.