Smog set to ease, but summer brings water shortage fears

[webfact]

Smog set to ease, but summer brings water shortage fears

By PRATCH RUJIVANAROM 
THE NATION 

 

File photo: Smog lingers over Wat Arun, or Temple of Dawn (C) and the city sky in Bangkok, Thailand, 15 January 2019. // EPA-EFE PHOTO

 

WINTER in Thailand will be over next week, the Meteorological Department announced yesterday. Even though the smog problem is expected to improve nationwide once winter ends, the arrival of summer brings along a new problem – water shortage.

 

Meteorological Department director-general Phuwieng Prakhammintara told a press conference yesterday that with the final cold front of the season approaching Thailand, people in the upper part of the country will have one last chance to enjoy the cool weather before summer arrives in the third week of February.

 

Summer will begin with bright prospects, Phuwieng said, adding that the smog problem in the North and Northeast will ease with the hot and windy summer weather, bringing an end to Bangkok’s PM2.5 crisis.

 

“The cold front will bring about windy and wetter weather in the North, Northeast and Central regions, which will consequently improve the smog situation in these areas, because stronger winds and more rainfall will help eliminate the PM2.5 dust particles from the air and improve the air quality,” he said.

 

The Meteorological Department has forecast that up until tomorrow the upper region of the country will have more rain and stronger winds, and then experience a temporary 1 to 3 degrees Celsius drop in temperature as a result of the approaching high-pressure area from China.

 

Despite a recent improvement in the dangerous smog in Bangkok and nearby provinces, the Pollution Control Department’s (PCD) real time air-quality monitoring network continues to show the North and Northeast being badly affected by a dense haze.

 

According to the PCD, yesterday’s daily mean of very fine dust particles – PM2.5 – in the northern provinces of Lampang and Phrae had soared to hazardous levels of 110 and 120 micrograms per cubic metre of air, respectively.

 

Meanwhile, despite Khon Kaen’s PM2.5 daily average yesterday being at 71 micrograms, it remained far above the safe standard set by both Thailand and the World Health Organisation. That measurement was the first sign of improvement in air quality in the northeastern province’s safe standard, but yesterday’s PM2.5 level was the first sign of an air-quality improvement, after PM2.5 exceeded 90 micrograms for four consecutive days.

 

Phuwieng said the current smog season in Bangkok would also end with the upcoming change of season.

 

“As the strong southerly winds and hotter weather of summer have already arrived in this region, the people in the Bangkok metropolitan area can now breathe the fresh air that is blowing northwards to Bangkok directly from the Gulf of Thailand,” he said.

 

“Meanwhile, the summer heat is also preventing the accumulation of PM2.5 dust particles and other pollutants in the air and ensuring that the PM2.5 smog will not return to Bangkok, at least until the next winter.” 

 

However, the problems of drought and saltwater intrusion are also looming. Water in many reservoirs in the northern, northeastern and central regions has already nearly dried up, and the upper part of the country is expected to face a hotter and more arid summer.

 

The Meteorological Department’s Climatological Centre has pointed to the development of El Nino conditions in the Pacific Ocean as the primary factor for the diminishing rainfall throughout the Asia Pacific region. 

 

The Centre expected that upper Thailand could also see a 30-per-cent drop in the usual dry season precipitation, which would greatly aggravate the risk of water shortages and drought.

 

Meanwhile, the daily report on water by the Royal Irrigation Department’s (RID) Smart Water Operation Centre noted yesterday that three major dams in the northeastern and central regions – Ubonrat, Thap Salao and Krasiew – were at a critical risk of water shortage, with the remaining stored water in them already below 20 per cent. A total of 60 medium-sized reservoirs across the country are at under-30-per-cent water storage.

 

RID deputy director-general Taweesak Thanadechophol, however, insisted that there was sufficient water for domestic consumption and businesses throughout this dry season.

 

“Today, the four major dams in the Chao Phraya River basin still retain over 15 billion cubic metres of water, or 62 per cent of overall storage capacity, so we are confident that there will be no water shortage in the Chao Phraya River Basin,” Taweesak said.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30363950

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-02-12

[Thaiwrath]

8 minutes ago, webfact said:

WINTER in Thailand will be over next week,

Up here in the North East, it never <deleted> started !

[PatOngo]

I've a feeling the climate will become unpredictable from March 24 onwards!

[Thailand]

Whereas in Chiangmai yesterday the air was so full  of crap you could taste it and only going to get worse in the coming weeks.

But pleased for Bangkok, don't want to ruin the upcomings.

Water problem, same as usual.

[mok199]

It will be interesting to see ,will they shorten songkran !

[mikebell]

It's either boom or bust in Thailand.  I thought the rainy season had gone on a lot longer than normal (at least in my area - Pattaya) with frequent flooding.  Now already they're talking about drought!

[jaiyen]

Thai authorities have absolutely no water management programme or skills to manage water resources.  Pump millions of litres into the air to achieve nothing and the report they are going to have a drought !   DERRRR !

[RotBenz8888]

1 hour ago, mok199 said:

It will be interesting to see ,will they shorten songkran !

A ban on water guns

[overherebc]

2 hours ago, mok199 said:

It will be interesting to see ,will they shorten songkran !

One day only of water throwing would be a welcome change for sure.

[Baerboxer]

1 hour ago, mikebell said:

It's either boom or bust in Thailand.  I thought the rainy season had gone on a lot longer than normal (at least in my area - Pattaya) with frequent flooding.  Now already they're talking about drought!

 

When it rains it floods with worries of big flooding. When it doesn't rain the worry immediately switches to drought.

 

Management at it's best - don't blame us, it's the weather.

[unamazedloso]

I get the impression someone is just telling people things with no knowledge at all. Pm2.5 crisis over? I think not. It will always be over a safe limit regardless but it will not hover at ground level so much so better afternoons i guess.

 

[mrmicbkktxl]

El Nino,I don't think so,it's more like El Stupido,if they had a better water management there wouldn't be any problems.Rain season and dry season are long gone.There is no more dry season here in Chonburi,it used to be 100% dry in December and January  until 4-5 years ago,but that changed.Dry season is more like mixed season with high humidity,high temperatures and hard rain once or twice a week,probably from global warming.

[mickymouse1]

Summer? So when is Autumn time as I plan to visit during good weather, either Autumn or Spring time.Please Advise????

[djayz]

6 hours ago, Thaiwrath said:

Up here in the North East, it never <deleted> started !

We had a few cold nights here in Korat, but they were over in a few weeks - much shorter than in previous years. It's the warmest "winter" I've ever experienced. LOL

[lipflipper]

Once again it's Open Mouth Insert Foot from some moronic Thai Official. This time the Bozo claims that smog levels will suddenly decrease with the absurd claim that the cold season is over and the levels of toxic dust will dissapate due to that. Boll..ocks. With the heat soon upon us it's only going to get worse especially in Bangkok.

Sent from my CMR-AL19 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[robblok]

2 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

 

When it rains it floods with worries of big flooding. When it doesn't rain the worry immediately switches to drought.

 

Management at it's best - don't blame us, it's the weather.

That is the problem with pursuing two goals that are opposite there is a big chance to fail at both. 

 

For flooding as much water needs to be released during the dry period and even wet period to prevent over flowing like we had last year. For farming you need to keep as much water as possible but risk flooding then.

 

Its quite hard to find the golden spot between the two and they end up failing at both. 

[CGW]

7 hours ago, Thaiwrath said:

Up here in the North East, it never <deleted> started !

Not sure where you are? but on the outskirts of Udon we have had a very pleasant "winter" season, not as cool as some years but the whole of January the night-time temperatures were ~16c, waiting for the summer months hoping it will get below 28c at night? ???? 

[billd766]

Out here in rural Khampaeng Phet we have only had 2.7mm of rain this year up until yesterday when 19.8mm fell.

 

However where I live by the Mae Wong national park we had no rain.

 

Last night there was a lot of thunder and lightning over the park but no rain until about 8am this morning for a couple of hours.

 

More serious is that the government water supply was cut off over the weekend but came back on Sunday night for a while before being cut off again and it hasn't come back yet.

 

The hills in the park are on fire again.

[robblok]

39 minutes ago, billd766 said:

Out here in rural Khampaeng Phet we have only had 2.7mm of rain this year up until yesterday when 19.8mm fell.

 

However where I live by the Mae Wong national park we had no rain.

 

Last night there was a lot of thunder and lightning over the park but no rain until about 8am this morning for a couple of hours.

 

More serious is that the government water supply was cut off over the weekend but came back on Sunday night for a while before being cut off again and it hasn't come back yet.

 

The hills in the park are on fire again.

That mus really suck no government water, its a real shame that they did not sort that out good.

[billd766]

46 minutes ago, robblok said:

That must really suck no government water, its a real shame that they did not sort that out good.

The government water is usually there but in 2018 there was about 50% less rainfall than in 2017. It used to be no problem when we moved up here 14 years ago as the water pipe is a 4 inch pipe but when we built we were 6 or 700 metres away from the neighbours on either side and now on our side of the road you can't stick a cigarette paper between them.

 

The main pipes have never been upgraded.

 

There is now a borehole which they use at times like this, and the last time it happened the fire truck from the big village was out delivering to every house for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week.

[robblok]

3 minutes ago, billd766 said:

The government water is usually there but in 2018 there was about 50% less rainfall than in 2017. It used to be no problem when we moved up here 14 years ago as the water pipe is a 4 inch pipe but when we built we were 6 or 700 metres away from the neighbours on either side and now on our side of the road you can't stick a cigarette paper between them.

 

The main pipes have never been upgraded.

 

There is now a borehole which they use at times like this, and the last time it happened the fire truck from the big village was out delivering to every house for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week.

That is something you often see in Thailand no forward planning and the water agency does not want to spend money on stuff like this as they rather use their budget for other things. Sad actually.

 

Thankfully I never have experienced that at my location. Its one of the sad things in Thailand that they don't plan for those things and that once such a situation is there they don't do anything about it. Probably a lot of work and real expensive too. 

 

Good luck.

[window]

How can there be a water shortage. everything was full to the brim after a longer and wetter rain season.

must be so much wasted.

[billd766]

32 minutes ago, window said:

How can there be a water shortage. everything was full to the brim after a longer and wetter rain season.

must be so much wasted.

Not in that many places in Thailand apart from the South.

 

My fishpond of about 500 cu/m never got about 2/3rd last year and is now dry as a bone. In 2018 up here we had less than half the rainfall of 2017 and up until yesterday Khampaeng Phet had on 2.7mm of rain this year.

 

Have a look here at the water levels in the large reservoirs http://www.thaiwater.net/DATA/REPORT/php/rid_dam_1.php?lang=en

 

and the medium ones here http://www.thaiwater.net/DATA/REPORT/php/show_sm_dam.php?lang=en

 

Click on any dam and you will see the levels of 2017, 2018 and 2019 for comparison.

 

 

[ZeVonderBearz]

In the north, not only will it be polluted, it will also be hot and there's not going to be any water. Only going to get worse unless people change there ways. 

[Nyezhov]

Looks like its time to start making my plane reservation

[YoungBrit]

Just can't win.

[billd766]

3 hours ago, ZeVonderBearz said:

In the north, not only will it be polluted, it will also be hot and there's not going to be any water. Only going to get worse unless people change there ways. 

I don't think people changing their ways will make that much difference TBH.

 

We are deep in the El Nino 5 year cycle and next year may be worse than this year after which it will come into the La Nina cycle with more heavy rain and flooding.

 

each cycle is about 5 years long and there will be little or nothing ANY government can do about it.

 

https://www.ecowatch.com/el-nino-2019-wmo-2621655246.html

 

 

[rickudon]

On 2/12/2019 at 11:54 AM, CGW said:

Not sure where you are? but on the outskirts of Udon we have had a very pleasant "winter" season, not as cool as some years but the whole of January the night-time temperatures were ~16c, waiting for the summer months hoping it will get below 28c at night? ???? 

Does not agree with my experience in Udon. I live in a village just outside the ring road and i could count the number of nights the temperature fell below 20c in January on one hand. Have had some nights when the minimum was over 24c. Have had to use the AC some nights. I have a maximum minimum thermometer. Temperature now has already been above 28c at midnight sometimes! 8 years ago the winter minimum temperature was rarely ABOVE 20c. Used to use a quilt back then, this winter never used more than a thin blanket and most nights  not even that.

 

And as for rain .... last wet season was pretty wet, but ended a bit early and only rained once in the last 4 months (about 80% less than normal).

[tlandtday]

There's a joke that goes around "What's the difference between a farmer and a 747?  The 747 stops whining when it lands in Hawai".   Every year the same old "too much rain, not enough rain, the earth is warming, the earth is cooling".  It's the <deleted> weather.  It's always been unpredictable. 

[CGW]

21 minutes ago, rickudon said:

last wet season was pretty wet, but ended a bit early and only rained once in the last 4 months (about 80% less than normal).

Agree with you on the rain, very little here in Nadee, we are generally a couple of degrees cooler than downtown, below is from weather site for Jan. Quite a difference for a small difference. First colum temp, second dewpoint.