Tests cancelled following heavy rains

The water drainage tests in Bangkok's eastern region have been cancelled due the heavy rainfall in the capital yesterday, according to Royal Chitradon, chairman of the Water and Flood Management Commission's sub-committee on water situation analysis.

The rainfall was measured at 60-90 millimetres over a wide area, raising the water level in Klong Song to 1.02 metres from mean sea level, despite no additional water from upstream being discharged to the canal, he said. Royal is also director of the Hydro and Agro Informatics Institute.

Last night, all the equipment prepared for the test was used to drain the water. All seven water-pushing machines drained water satisfactorily and effectively within two hours. The water level downstream in Klong Lat Phrao dropped quickly.

Royal said the water agency will today discuss whether the drainage test in Bangkok’s eastern canals should be rescheduled.

The government's first test was conducted Wednesday along the canal network to the west of the capital. Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said the overall testing on Wednesday was completed satisfactorily, both in terms of the performance of government officials and the flow of water.

The test is aimed at helping the water agency to evaluate the effectiveness of the canals and pumps in draining water into the sea in preparation for the northern run-off in October.