RID floats 2-year tap water target for 7,500 ‘dry’ villages

The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) has set a two-year target to provide tap water for nearly 7,500 villages that suffer repeated water shortages.

The goal is part of a water management strategic plan, which runs from this year to 2026. The plan was reviewed during a meeting of the Strategic Committee for Water Resources Management, chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday.

Altogether 7,490 villages currently not served by tap water will have access to regular tap water by 2017, RID directorgeneral Lertviroj Kowattana said.

There are currently 9,093 villages served by tap water and the government is working to improve the water system.

The RID will seek a budget to carry out the tap water installation, he said, with the money expected to be allocated next month.

The money will also fund a project to supply drinking water to 6,132 schools and communities as well as improving tap water systems in 255 urban areas, he said.

Speaking about the 12-year water management plan, Mr Lertviroj said the shortage of water for consumption is the top priority, followed by ensuring sufficient supplies for farms and industries.

The department will also look at flood prevention and mitigation, water quality control, restoration of watershed forest and eroded soil surface and water management.

Some minor adjustments could be made to the draft plan, which should be completed in a month, he said.

Mr Lertviroj said a 103-billion-baht budget has been set aside for the water management plan next year.

Many villagers suffer a lack of regular water supplies for consumption, according to Department of Groundwater Resources director-general Praneet Roibang.

The department will look for underground water which can be used for tap water production, he said.

The department will also promote the use of underground water for farming by installing more water pumps in agricultural areas, he added.

Jatuporn Buruspat, director-general of the Department of Water Resources, said Gen Prayut told the meeting the projects will be launched this year to reduce the number of areas that face repeated drought and flooding.

He said the department will expand the capacity of large water-retention areas, such as Bueng Boraphet, a freshwater swamp in Nakhon Sawan, as well as boosting irrigation areas.

Gen Prayut also instructed state agencies to preserve forests with watershed areas and evict encroachers from forest land.