Farms face threat of going dry as water cut

THE Cabinet will consider a plan today that seeks to avert a tap-water shortage crisis – by cutting the volume of irrigation water from dams and barring farmers from diverting water from public channels to their farmland.
If the plan goes ahead, about 3.2 million rai of farmland will face the threat of a lack of water – if there is no rain.
At present, dams are releasing 28 million cubic metres of water a day. But the plan aims to reduce the volume to just 18 million from Thursday onward, to reserve water for household use.
Interior Minister General Anupong Paochinda unveiled the plan yesterday after a meeting with agencies including the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority (MWA), Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA) and the Royal Irrigation Department.
“We believe the measures will ensure the country has raw water for piped-water production until August,” he said.
The meeting took place after several areas adjacent to Bangkok suffered a tap-water shortage.
Officials at the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) insisted yesterday that latest assessments showed the capital would not experience any tap-water disruption – though water levels in some canals in its eastern zone have dried up.
Anupong asked farmers yesterday not to pump water for their crops during this period as it is needed first for domestic use.
The order has passed down to local levels, with Pathum Thani provincial governor Pongsathorn Sajjacholaphan requesting farmers along Raphipat Canal not to pump water from the canal for three days: July 12 to July 14.
The water use restriction also applies along the Chai Nat- Pasak canal. Raw water from the Chao Phraya will be used to supply the raw water pumping station in Lop Buri first, then water will be distributed to farmers.
“The Royal Irrigation Department confirmed that if there is no water taken out of the system, it can supply water until rain arrives in August,” Anupong said.
On the Royal Irrigation Department’s irrigation water reduction plan, water released from Bhumibol Dam will be cut from 8 million cubic metres to 5 million cubic metres – and Sirikit Dam from 17.27 million cubic metres to 11 million cubic metres.
According a report by the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry, 3.2 million rai of farmland will suffer some crop damage due to the cut in irrigation water.
“Up until now the MWA and Royal Irrigation Department can work properly without a problem, while I still haven’t received the PWA information yet, but I believe there will be no severe disruption than the minor tap-water shortage in some areas,” he said.

Parts of Pathum Thani have faced a tap-water shortage for three days.
PWA governor Ratana Kitchawan revealed that the tap-water production at PWA Thanyaburi office has started again and tap-water was ready for distribution from yesterday evening.
Water supplied by the Irrigation Department from the Pa Sak River reached the production site yesterday morning and is expected to be sufficient for tap-water production until August.
“In case the irrigation water is not enough for tap-water use, the alternative source of water is from Chaipattana Foundation’s pond, Phra Ram Khao pond and artesian wells,” Ratana said.
In regard to the impact of drought on the tap-water service in the Bangkok area, MWA governor Thanasak Watanathana said the water shortage in parts of Pathum Thani was not affecting Bangkok because raw water for piped water production was from the Chao Phraya River. In Pathum Thani the raw water for tap-water production came from the Pa Sak River.
From Royal Irrigation Department figures yesterday, the available water in Pa Sak Jolasid Dam – which supplies water in the Pa Sak River – had only 5 per cent of overall capacity. Bhumibol Dam and Sirikit Dam, which supply water to the Chao Phraya, had 29 per cent and 33 per cent of overall capacity respectively.
Overall, 601 villages in Phrae, Chon Buri, Sukhothai and Pathum Thani have been declared emergency drought zones by the National Disaster Warning Centre. The office said 1,401 villages in six provinces had been affected by drought.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha urged everyone to save water because the available supply is low. He also ordered provincial governors to mediate with farmers.